The House on Carroll Street (1988)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
23% of users liked it
(1,212 ratings)

Yes, there are commies under the bed. But are there Nazis there too? Emily Crane (Kelly McGillis) is a modestly successful Life photo editor living in 1950s New York, until she is called before the Senate Un-American Activities Committee to testify about her "communist" associations. When she… More Yes, there are commies under the bed. But are there Nazis there too? Emily Crane (Kelly McGillis) is a modestly successful Life photo editor living in 1950s New York, until she is called before the Senate Un-American Activities Committee to testify about her "communist" associations. When she refuses to divulge the names of friends in her civil liberties group, she loses her employment and her friends. In desperation, she takes a job reading books for Miss Venable, a somewhat crotchety lady (Jessica Tandy) who lives in a quiet residential neighborhood. Then, while taking a break in Miss Venable's back yard, Emily overhears something from the house behind that compels her to investigate and leads her eventually to conclude that it is the headquarters of a group smuggling in ex-Nazi scientists for some mysterious purpose. Meanwhile, she is being harassed by two FBI men, on behalf of the Senate Committee, as well as by a sinister, McCarthyite, Senate investigator named Salwen (Mandy Patinkin). One of the FBI men, Cochran (Jeff Daniels), takes a liking to Emily and humors her by agreeing to investigate her suspicions. This quiet mystery is a nostalgia piece. It's '50s backgrounds are authentic and the plot device -- an innocent becoming entangled in an unbelievable conspiracy -- is closer to one of Hitchcock's masterpieces of that period (e.g., North by Northwest) than to Reservoir Dogs or Speed. The people seem to be from a simpler time, too, when the distinction between good and evil was clearer. Emily shines with idealistic integrity and the naive Cochran is so honest that he finds it impossible to deceive the target of his investigation. There is even a terrifying, "acrophobe's nightmare" scene played out in a dome high above Grand Central Station. For those tired of endless shoot-em-ups and car chases, this is the mystery to choose. ~ Michael P. Rogers, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Peter Yates
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Jun 3, 2003
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Probes the moral issues involved in recruiting former Nazis to secure America's scientific lead over the Russians in the Cold War.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

This is an awesome movie that I never heard about when it was released in 1988, due to being out of the country and movie watching was very limited. Kelly McGills who was my heartthrob in Witness, and who played in Top Gun, played the role of Emily Crane in this later movie, and she… More
This is an awesome movie that I never heard about when it was released in 1988, due to being out of the country and movie watching was very limited. Kelly McGills who was my heartthrob in Witness, and who played in Top Gun, played the role of Emily Crane in this later movie, and she was excellent and convincing. On the other hand Jeff Daniels its hard to place him anywhere else then Dumb & Dumber. This movie is time set right after WWII and a high political official is helping smuggle Nazi war criminals into the United States and Emily discovers this and with the help of a Stray FBI officer she tries to put an end to it. This was a very enjoyable film. 4 1/2 stars.

Cast

            Kelly McGillis as Emily Crane

            Jeff Daniels as Cochran

            Mandy Patinkin as Ray Salwen

            Christopher Rhode as Stefan

            Jessica Tandy as Miss Venable

            Jonathan Hogan as Alan

            Trey Wilson as Lieutenant Sloan

            James Babchak as Salwen Aide in Senate Hearing

            J.J. Barry as Barber

            Anna Berger as Funeral Woman

            Brian Davies as Warren

            Mary Diveny as Maid

            Alice Drummond as Woman at Hearing

            William Duff-Griffin as FBI Librarian

            George Ede as Conductor

            Michael Flanagan as Senator

            John Randolph Jones as Agent Simpson

            Boris Leskin as Horwitz

            Charles McCaughan as Salwen Aide

            Maeve McGuire as Mrs. Byington

            Randle Mell as Salwen Aide

            Bill Moor as Dr. Teperson

            Maureen Moore as Manicurist

            Remak Ramsay as Senator Byington

            James Rebhorn as Official

            Frederick Rolf as FBI Director

            Jamey Sheridan as Porter

            Howard Sherman as Boris

            Paul Sparer as Randolph Slote

            Robert Stanton as Dionysus

            Kenneth Welsh as Hackett

            Cliff Cudney as McKay

            David Hart as Stage Manager

            Tony Carreiro as Xanthias

            Christopher Cusack as Theater-goer

            Todd de Freitas as Senator Byington's Son

            Patricia Falkenhain as Woman In The House

            Rabbi Morris S. Friedman as Rabbi

            Stephen Gleason as Man at Theater Bar

            John-Kenneth Hoffman as Walter

            Gregory Jbara as Office Boy

            Melba LaRose as Receptionist

            Gaylord C. Mason as Theater Manager

            Daniel Mills as Bartender

            Polly O'Malley as Manicurist

            Frank Patton as Sergeant

            Elizabeth A. Reilly as Theater-goer

            Skip Rose as Sloan's Partner

            Suzanne Slade as Senator Byington's Daughter

            James Tew as Sam

            Alexis Yulin as Sackadorf

            Marat Yusim as Bistrong

            John Carpenter as Gateman
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