The Passing of the Third Floor Back

1935 1h 30m EN

🙌

7.8

BANGER

★7.8TMDB · 11

DramaFantasyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The tenants of an old London boarding house spend their time in petty bickering and sniping until a mysterious stranger arrives at their door.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Conrad Veidt
The Stranger
Rène Ray
Stasia
Frank Cellier
Wright
Anna Lee
Vivian Tomkin
John Turnbull
Major Tomkin
Cathleen Nesbitt
Mrs. Tomkin
Ronald Ward
Chris Penny
Beatrix Lehmann
Miss Kite

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Berthold Viertel
Writers: Jerome K. Jerome, Alma Reville, Michael Hogan
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

91 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Berthold Viertel, shot by Curt Courant. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hubert Bath. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Derek N. Twist shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Conrad Veidt and Rène Ray and Frank Cellier carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0026854 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Berthold Viertel directs. Curt Courant behind the camera. Hubert Bath scores. Derek N. Twist cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
291 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Berthold Viertel, shot by Curt Courant. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Hubert Bath. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Derek N. Twist shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Conrad Veidt and Rène Ray and Frank Cellier carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0026854 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 11 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Curt Courant
Original score: Hubert Bath
Editing: Derek N. Twist
Runtime: 90 min · 1h 30m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Passing of the Third Floor Back (1935)

Also by

Berthold Viertel

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-06-19
★ 7/10
Don't be put off by the rather convoluted title. This is quite a clever story of man's inhumanity to his fellow creature. Frank Cellier is "Wright" by name, but seldom by nature in this tale of a group of lodgers living in his old London boarding house. The occupant's lives vacillate between occasional joy but mostly misery, and he relishes in prolonging the latter states of affairs - especially for the young kitchen maid "Stasia" (a good effort here from Rene Ray) who lives an almost "Cinderella" style existence. Then a stranger - Conradt Veidt - arrives amongst their number, and slowly but surely things start to take turns for the better for many of his colleagues. This new found happiness doesn't suit "Wright" and soon he is plotting the downfall of the newcomer, too. It's quite a basic, stage-bound, production, and many of the stars cut their teeth in that medium between the wars - Anna Lee, Cathleen Nesbitt and the instantly recognisable Sarah Allgood, so know their business well enough. Each character has their few moments in the sun as Veidt tries to help them to help themselves, not by giving them cash or jobs, but by empowering them to take control of their own lives more - and his approach is surprisingly effective. Veidt is perfectly attired, aloof and debonaire with this performance, yet he does illuminate each scene with an intimacy. A kindness, maybe angelic or maybe just something more down to Earth - a decency of heart and spirit. Cellier's portrayal of the odious, manipulative landlord ought not to be overlooked either, he manages quite successfully to get your heckles up before a suitably fitting ending!

Production companies