Road House (1948)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(234 ratings)

Richard Widmark plays the borderline-psycho owner of a combination road house and bowling alley. Widmark's singer, Ida Lupino, begins exhibiting an interest in his manager, Cornel Wilde. To get even with Wilde, Widmark frames him on a robbery charge, then has the unlucky fellow released in his… More Richard Widmark plays the borderline-psycho owner of a combination road house and bowling alley. Widmark's singer, Ida Lupino, begins exhibiting an interest in his manager, Cornel Wilde. To get even with Wilde, Widmark frames him on a robbery charge, then has the unlucky fellow released in his custody. The sadistic Widmark takes every opportunity to flaunt his control over Conte, but this only serves to deepen the relationship between Wilde and Lupino. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Jean Negulesco
Written By: Edward Chodorov
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 22, 1948 Wide
On DVD: May 14, 2009

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
This lurid 1948 melodrama by Jean Negulesco has built up a considerable underground reputation.
Variety Staff, Variety
Framed within a realistically intimate roadhouse setting, yarn reconstructs the triangle with an arrestingly psychotic twist supplied by Richard Widmark.
A.H. Weiler, New York Times
List first the fact that Widmark, though he stands in danger of being typed as the screen's prime psychotic, does an excellent job (complete with chilling laughter).
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A stylish and perverse film noir.
Sean Axmaker, Turner Classic Movies Online
A minor classic of forties film noir with major pleasures, Road House is an unusual, and unusually fascinating, variation on the genre.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Mad, perhaps, but memorable too.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A strange cultish love-triangle film noir directed by the gifted Jean Negulesco.
, Film4
Widmark does his wicked best as the obsessed would-be lover, and waiting in the wings is the great Holm to gently out-act them all.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

Road House is kind of a tough movie for me to form an opinion of. It's not really noir, kind of but not really. It takes place in this claustrophobic bar/bowling alley/lodge place and this weird love triangle thing is going on, I don't know. Ida Lupino is great as usual and… More
Road House is kind of a tough movie for me to form an opinion of. It's not really noir, kind of but not really. It takes place in this claustrophobic bar/bowling alley/lodge place and this weird love triangle thing is going on, I don't know. Ida Lupino is great as usual and her singing voice serves as a parallel for how I feel about the movie. I'm kind of put off by it initially but after the third performance I was kind of intrigued. Richard Widmark is his usual over-the-top, early performance nutjob self as the crazy spoiled heiress in a performance that kind of mirrors Lupino's in They Drive By Night. That bar fight was an absolute blast nd Celeste Holm was such a doll.
AJ V

Widmark gives a fantastic performance in this movie. That's mainly why I loved it, but the story is interesting and exciting as well.
Stella D

ida is terrific, her 'singing' must be experienced to be fully appreciated and what's going on with that hairdo? but widmark steals the show as spoiled brat psycho 'jefty.' bit over the top but very enjoyable
jay n

Ida couldn't be tougher then as the road house singer she plays here and Richard Widmark is delightfully nuts in this fine noir.

Cast

            Ida Lupino as Lily Stevens

            Cornel Wilde as Pete Morgan

            Celeste Holm as Susie Smith

            Richard Widmark as Jefty Robbins

            O.Z. Whitehead as Arthur

            Robert Karnes as Mike

            George Andre Beranger as Lefty

            Ian MacDonald as Police Captain

            Grandon Rhodes as Judge

            Robert Cherry as Pinboy

            Charles "Heinie" Conklin as Court Clerk

            Clancy Cooper as Policeman at Club

            Jack Edwards
            
            Charles Flynn as Policeman

            Robert Foulk as Policeman

            Douglas Gerrard as Waiter

            Lee MacGregor as Man

            Marion Marshall as Millie

            Kathleen O'Malley as Woman

            Harry Seymour as Desk Clerk

            Ray Teal as Policeman

            Cecil Weston as Woman

            Tom Moore as Foreman

            Don Kohler as Man

            Edgar Caldwell as Man

            Geraldine Jordan as Woman

            Jack Lee as Sam

            Blanche Taylor as Girl
See full cast