The Stranger

A relentless investigator hunts down a master of deception hiding in plain sight.

Critics broadly regard it as a taut, expertly photographed film noir thriller with strong performances and suspenseful direction, despite some reservations about its contrived premise.

• Franz Kindler presents himself as Professor Charles Rankin while Wilson investigates his hidden Nazi past.
• Welles uses black-and-white photography, ominous compositions, and the clock-tower climax to intensify the threat.
• Federal Agent Wilson of the War Crimes Commission tracks a Nazi mastermind hiding in Connecticut.
• The quiet college town of Harper becomes the setting for an international manhunt and domestic deception.

• Shadow of a Doubtshared film noir atmosphere, fugitive identity, and investigation of hidden criminality
• The Third Manshared postwar paranoia, morally compromised characters, and noir suspense
• The Big Sleepshared noir investigation, concealed identity, and mounting psychological threat

Director

Orson Welles

Release Date

1946-06-02

Runtime

95 min

Rating

7.2 / 10 (671)

What is The Stranger about?

A War Crimes Commission investigator closes in on a Nazi mastermind hiding behind the respectable identity of a Connecticut professor.

What is The Stranger like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Stranger as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is The Stranger violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Stranger as mild.

What did critics think of The Stranger?

Critics broadly regard it as a taut, expertly photographed film noir thriller with strong performances and suspenseful direction, despite some reservations about its contrived premise.

Which films are like The Stranger?

Films with a similar feel include Shadow of a Doubt, The Third Man, and The Big Sleep.

How long is The Stranger?

The Stranger runs 95 minutes.

Where can I watch The Stranger?

In United States, The Stranger streams on Amazon Prime Video, JustWatch TV Free, fuboTV, JustWatch TV Plus, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Free Movies Plus, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Hoopla, FlixHouse, Fandor, MGM Plus, Pluto TV, Night Flight Plus, Shout! Factory TV, Starz Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling, YouTube Free, TCM, IndieFlix, Plex, Plex Player, Plex Channel, Darkroom, Fawesome, Starz, Xumo Play, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Troma NOW, Dove Amazon Channel, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Tubi TV, Artiflix.