1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
Tight 64-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Stranger on the Third Floor
1940 1h 4m EN
👍
6.5
SOLID
★6.5TMDB · 109
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Newspaper reporter Michael Ward plunges into a nightmare of guilt, fearing that his "evidence" has sentenced the wrong man to death.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Peter Lorre
The Stranger
John McGuire
Michael Ward
Margaret Tallichet
Jane
Charles Waldron
District Attorney
Elisha Cook Jr.
Joe Briggs
Charles Halton
Albert Meng
Ethel Griffies
Mrs. Kane
Cliff Clark
Martin
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Boris Ingster
- Writers
- Frank Partos, Nathanael West, Frank Partos
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
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 🍿
2 / 8
MONEY
Did you know
Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
ERA
Did you know
86 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Boris Ingster, shot by Nicholas Musuraca. 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 Roy Webb. 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 Harry Marker 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
Peter Lorre and John McGuire and Margaret Tallichet carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0033107 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Boris Ingster directs. Nicholas Musuraca behind the camera. Roy Webb scores. Harry Marker cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Tight 64-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
- 2Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
- 386 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 4Directed by Boris Ingster, shot by Nicholas Musuraca. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Roy Webb. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Harry Marker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Peter Lorre and John McGuire and Margaret Tallichet carry the top of the cast.
- 8IMDB entry: tt0033107 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Nicholas Musuraca
- Original score
- Roy Webb
- Editing
- Harry Marker
- Costume design
- Renié
- Makeup / hair
- Mel Berns
- Runtime
- 64 min · 1h 4m
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $171,200
- Original language
- EN
Also by
Boris Ingster
Production companies
Who made it
RKO Radio Pictures
US
Key crew
- ProducerLee S. Marcus
- Costume DesignRenié
- Makeup ArtistMel Berns
- Art DirectionVan Nest Polglase
- EditorHarry Marker
- Assistant DirectorJames E. Casey
- SoundBailey Fesler
- Special EffectsVernon L. Walker
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- film noir
- b movie
- wrongful conviction
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1940-08-16
- TV1956-06-16
Also known as
International titles
- El desconocido del tercer pisoES
- El desconocido del tercer pisoEC
- Murha kolmannessa kerroksessaFI
- L'inconnu du 3ème étageFR
- O xenos tou tritouGR
- Незнакомец на третьем этажеSU
- El desconegut del tercer pisES
- Stranac sa treceg sprataYU
