Question 1

Why did Peter Lorre receive top billing in Stranger on the Third Floor despite having a small role?

Accepted Answer

Peter Lorre owed RKO two days on his contract and was given this role with few scenes, but he received top billing largely because his was the most recognizable name among the principal cast.

Question 2

What connection does Stranger on the Third Floor have to other early film noirs like The Maltese Falcon?

Accepted Answer

Stranger on the Third Floor or The Maltese Falcon is often cited as the 'first film noir,' with Peter Lorre starring in both and Elisha Cook Jr. in the two American films.

Question 3

How did Stranger on the Third Floor perform financially upon release?

Accepted Answer

The film was not a box office success, resulting in a loss to RKO of $56,000 (nearly $1.2M in 2022) according to studio records.

Question 4

What visual style influenced Stranger on the Third Floor, and how was it received?

Accepted Answer

Its artsy visual style, with dark shadows, chiaroscuro lighting, and symbolism, was influenced by European film-making, but it was criticized as 'pretentious' and thought to contribute to its financial loss.

Question 5

What is the central conflict that drives the plot of Stranger on the Third Floor?

Accepted Answer

Newspaper reporter Michael Ward plunges into a nightmare of guilt, fearing that his 'evidence' has sentenced the wrong man to death.

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Stranger on the Third Floor

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