Orson Welles,
Edward G. Robinson,
Loretta Young,
Philip Merivale,
Byron Keith
... see more 
The Stranger is often considered Orson Welles' most "traditional" Hollywood-style directorial effort. Welles plays a college professor named Charles Rankin, who lives in a pastoral Connecticut town wi... read more
DVD Release Date: February 8, 2000
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Stats: 329 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (329)
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February 20, 2012fb619846742A minor entry in the legendary career of Orson Welles, concerning a Nazi supporter (Welles) hiding out in Connecticut in the wake of the fall of the German empire, and how a skilled detective (Edward G. Robinson) tracks him down and tries to get him to confess to his true identit... read more
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February 18, 2011Welles is so technically proficient that even his second-tier works are a clinic in form, camera blocking, and mise-en-scene. Like Bergman, he isn't afraid to use dramatic closeups to communication the emotional tics of his characters, and he always strays clear of the convention... read more
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October 23, 2010The Stranger or I Married a Nazi (just kidding). A small town is unaware that one of their citizens was a Nazi in WWII, and he lives a normal life until someone comes looking for him. A good movie, with good actors and an interesting story.
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December 5, 2009Wonderfully atmospheric noir with three stars at the top of their game and sensational direction.
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October 24, 2007The camera and technique are really the stars in the early film by Welles.
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December 30, 2011fb208103125Traditional in style it may be, but Orson Welles directs a solid noir styled mystery/drama that is a beautiful creation to watch. The B&W cinematography and use of light and dark make it atmospheric and dark and it suits the mood perfectly! Welles besides directing the film, al... read more
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October 27, 2009Not on par with Welles' best, but still features some stunning technical choices.
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February 21, 2011sayers1977A disappointing thriller from Welles. I was hoping for much more but the film looks as if it's been tampered with by the studio (the film just stops rather than ends!) and there is little suspense in the story as Rankin's true identity is never in doubt. Robinson is good as the N... read more
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August 14, 2010The cinematography is inconsistently brilliant and lacks the deliberate angles of Welles' other films, hopelessly rendering this more of an enjoyable Nazi-hunter thriller than a visual masterpiece. Edward Robinson is great and Orson Welles could have been better. Third film I've ... read more
Critic Reviews
April 6, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
April 6, 2007
Variety
The Stranger is socko melodrama, spinning an intriguing web of thrills and chills. Full Review
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
The whole film, produced by S. P. Eagle, comes off a bloodless, manufactured show. Full Review
February 15, 2010
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
Welles is so technically proficient that even his second-tier works are well worth seeking out, and The Stranger belongs to this category. Full Review
August 9, 2007
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Full of bizarre shots and fascinating little moments. Full Review
July 22, 2007
Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine
As distinctively Wellesian as Citizen Kane. Full Review
February 9, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of Welles' most conventional films: His fans don't like it because it's too plot-driven and linear but that was his goal, wishing to prove that he could make a mainstream film after the brilliant ... Full Review
August 29, 2006
TV Guide's Movie Guide
The most restrained and conventional of Welles's films, but still a thrilling entertainment. Full Review
June 1, 2006
Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers
Atmospheric thriller-noir has Welles, Robinson pluses.
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The Stranger
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