Living with his two unmarried sisters in the family mansion, a cloth designer struggles to maintain a romance against the objections of his younger sister who is a little too worried in this unusual noir entry from Robert Siodmak. The narrative has several interesting dynamics with ambiguity as to whether the sister is more concerned about possibly losing the family home or simply jealous of their intimate relationship. Unanswered questions also abound in terms of how and why the brother has come to be so subservient, letting his sisters dominate his life. With so much left up in the air, the first hour of the film is an uneven ride, but the final twenty minutes are utterly gripping with a series of thought-provoking twists thrown into the mix. The very last twist admittedly does not quite work (apparently it was forced on by the censors), but the character dynamics are otherwise excellent in this final stretch of the movie. With good performances all round, this is an easy film to recommend for the bits and pieces that do work. The script may not be airtight, but this is still a solid portrait of guilt, rivalry and tension between grown siblings who are still as petty as children at times.
Review of The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
