The House on 92nd Street (1945)

60% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(1,145 ratings)

Filmed in semi-documentary fashion, House on 92nd Street is a "now it can be told" drama about the smashing of a Nazi spy ring operating the U.S. Thanks to covert surveillance, the FBI learns of the presence of several suspicious persons in NYC. William Eythe is a German-American college student… More Filmed in semi-documentary fashion, House on 92nd Street is a "now it can be told" drama about the smashing of a Nazi spy ring operating the U.S. Thanks to covert surveillance, the FBI learns of the presence of several suspicious persons in NYC. William Eythe is a German-American college student approached by the spies to become a secret Nazi operative. Eythe instead heads directly to FBI chief Lloyd Nolan and offers his services as a double agent. His mission is to locate the head of the spy ring, an unseen figure known only as Mr. Christopher, and to that end Eythe infiltrates the ring, headquarted in a town house on 92nd street. Among the conspirators are an erudite German colonel (Leo G. Carroll) and the beautiful female owner of the house (Signe Hasso). Part of the plot involves the smuggling to Germany of America's atomic secrets by a weak-willed document clerk (played by Gene Lockhart, one of the best "cringers" in the business). Dwelling a bit too long on the meticulous research techniques of the FBI, House on 92nd Street picks up momentum in the final sequence, wherein "Mr. Christopher" is revealed and double agent Eythe barely escapes with his skin intact. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Henry Hathaway
Written By: Barré Lyndon, Charles G. Booth, John Monks Jr.
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 10, 1945 Wide
On DVD: Sep 6, 2005

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...most of this stuff simply isn't interesting.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
It was a big money earner for Fox in 1945, chiefly because of its shockingly frank (at the time) realism...
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Provides a somewhat accurate historical framework for the period.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

This is from the fox Film Noir Collection and is a semi documentary film, shows the FBI at work in those early days of the European conflict. Henry Hathaway, the director, focus on the work behind the scenes of a group of German spies, operating in New York and how the FBI is able to… More
This is from the fox Film Noir Collection and is a semi documentary film, shows the FBI at work in those early days of the European conflict. Henry Hathaway, the director, focus on the work behind the scenes of a group of German spies, operating in New York and how the FBI is able to infiltrate the group. If your into Film Noir and ole school black and white you might enjoy it. I can only muster up 2 1/2 Stars on this one
AJ V

Boring, confusing, I didn't get it. I usually like film noir, but I didn't like this movie.
Michael G

There's good noir and there's bad noir. This isn't good noir.
Byron B

Docu-drama film-noir of the FBI's efforts in the 40's. Nice twist at the end.

Cast

            William Eythe as Bill Dietrich

            Lloyd Nolan as Inspector George A. Briggs

            Signe Hasso as Elsa Gebhardt

            Gene Lockhart as Charles Ogden Roper

            Leo G Carroll as Col. Hammersohn

            Lydia St. Clair as Johanna Schmidt

            Mike Evans
            
            William Post Jr. as Walker

            Harry Bellaver as Max Coburg

            Bruno Wick as Adolphe Lange

            Harro Meller as Conrad Arnulf

            Charles Wagenheim as Gus Huzmann

            Alfred Linder as Adolph Klaen

            Renee Carson as Luise Vadja

            Rusty Lane as Admiral

            John R. McKee as Dr. Arthur C. Appleton

            Edwin Jerome as Major General

            Paul Ford as Sergeant

            William Adams as Customs Officer

            Tom Brown as Intern

            Sheila Bromley as Customer

            Edgar Dearing as Cop

            Vincent Gardenia as Trainee

            Reed Hadley as Narrator

            Frank Kreig as Travel Agent

            E.G. Marshall as Attendant at Morgue

            Scott Moore as Saboteur

            Victor Sutherland as Toll Guard

            Alfred Zeisler as Col. Strassen

            J. Edgar Hoover
            
            Frieda Altman
            
            Douglas Rutherford as Colonel

            Frank Richards as Trainee
See full cast