Road House

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Road House

1948,

1h 35m,

Crime/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

85%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

250+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

At a seedy nightclub and bowling alley near the Canadian border, owner Jefty Robbins (Richard Widmark) is in love with his new cabaret singer, Lily Stevens (Ida Lupino), who only has eyes for Jefty's best friend, bar manager Pete Morgan (Cornel Wilde). Although he tries to keep his distance, Pete soon falls for Lily's charms. But when the couple tries to run away together, Jefty and jealous cashier Susie Smith (Celeste Holm) conspire to frame them for a crime they didn't commit.

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Apr 30, 2012

This lurid 1948 melodrama by Jean Negulesco has built up a considerable underground reputation.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Framed within a realistically intimate roadhouse setting, yarn reconstructs the triangle with an arrestingly psychotic twist supplied by Richard Widmark.

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A.H. Weiler

New York Times

Aug 8, 2006

4/5

List first the fact that Widmark, though he stands in danger of being typed as the screen's prime psychotic, does an excellent job (complete with chilling laughter).

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jul 15, 2023

6/10

A minor work of film noir, lacking the pulse to sustain its predictable melodrama about jealousy, blackmail and murder. [Full review in Spanish]

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Nell Dodson Russell

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Jan 14, 2022

Richard Widmark being nasty, Ida Lupino being nice on the eyes and Cornel Wilde -- WOW!

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Elsa Branden

Photoplay

Aug 20, 2021

0/3

Whatever else is wrong with this movie, there's plenty of action.

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Abraham G

Nov 29, 2018

A breathtaking and dazzling film, with amazing performances from Ida Lupino and a very young Richard Widmark. Lupino is just amazing as the cigarette smoking, bourbon swilling moody chanteuse. The film is beautifully set and the plot develops beautifully towards a thrilling climax.

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Jean Negulesco

Director

Ida Lupino

Lily Stevens

Cornel Wilde

Pete Morgan

Richard Widmark

Jefferson T. "Jefty" Robbins

Celeste Holm

Susie Smith

O.Z. Whitehead

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Synopsis

At a seedy nightclub and bowling alley near the Canadian border, owner Jefty Robbins (Richard Widmark) is in love with his new cabaret singer, Lily Stevens (Ida Lupino), who only has eyes for Jefty's best friend, bar manager Pete Morgan (Cornel Wilde). Although he tries to keep his distance, Pete soon falls for Lily's charms. But when the couple tries to run away together, Jefty and jealous cashier Susie Smith (Celeste Holm) conspire to frame them for a crime they didn't commit.

Director: Jean Negulesco
Producer: Edward Chodorov
Screenwriter: Edward Chodorov
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Sep 2, 2008
Runtime: 1h 35m

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