The thriller genre has been a crucial part of American cinema since the medium’s inception.
10’Road House' (1948)
Ida Lupinostars in the 1948 thrillerRoad House.
The plot follows Lily Stevens, a singer at a roadhouse who continuously rejects the owner’s romantic advances.
When she develops a relationship with his childhood friend, the owner becomes murderous.
Road Housebenefits from a stellar turn from the ever-underrated Lupino, who makes her singing debut in the film.
Twisting and effectively tense,Road Houseis one of the best and most unfairly overlooked thrillers from the 1940s.
Image via Warner Bros.
The plot centers on a man framed for a murder committed by a powerful businessman.
Desperate to prove his innocence, he stumbles upon a dangerous conspiracy.
The Big Clockis amongthe most thrilling films from the Golden Age.
Milland and Laughton are particularly good, as is the iconicElsa Lanchesterin a scene-stealing supporting turn.
However, when she gets mysteriously murdered, all eyes point to the slick con man.
Stylish and gripping,Phantom Ladymakes the best of its fascinating premise for the plot’s first two halves.
Possessedlives and dies with Joan Crawford.
As its name implies,Raw Dealis a rather exploitative drama with some B-movie qualities.
The plot might be relentless, but the visual style is too lush to resist.
The plot concerns a recently-escaped convict imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit.
Undergoing facial surgery to avoid recognition, he teams up with a young woman to clear out his name.
2’Stage Fright' (1950)
The iconicMarlene Dietrichstars oppositeJane WymaninAlfred Hitchcock’s 1950 British thrillerStage Fright.
Stage Frightbenefits from a pair of stunning lead performances by Dietrich and Wyman and Hitchcock’s reliably confident direction.
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Image via Warner Bros.
Image via Warner Bros.
