Stranger on the Third Floor

This small, interesting, film which is generally considered the first film noir, The Stranger on the Third Floor, directed by Boris Ingster, is the story of the story of a reporter's search for a murderer. Ward, (John McGuire) was the star witness in a murder trial that convicted Briggs (Elisha Cook, Jr.), but he begins to doubt his own testimony. When another murder is committed Ward begins to focus his suspicions on a mysterious stranger (Peter Lorre), and attempts to find the true killer in time to save Briggs. This film, beautifully photographed by Nicholas Musuraca, shows the German influence on the classic film noir with its deep focus, high contract, stylized photography. The tone of the film, with is Baroque nightmare scenes establishes the technique which will be later used to great effect in the entire genre.