My first exposure to this film was on television. "The Red House" had lapsed into the public domain and television stations were able to broadcast it free of charge. I was blown away by the film when I first viewed it on late night television. The atmosphere of menace in the woods felt genuine.

It is amazing to me that "The Red House" became an orphaned film when its copyright expired. It was written and directed by Delmer Daves and the frightening musical score, which is well suited to the action, was composed by Miklos Rozsa.

Edward G. Robinson's performance is outstanding and the supporting cast is first-rate. Despite its rural setting "The Red House" is loaded with tension, frustration, longing and perversity. Given its subtext, I am amazed that the conservative Breen Office approved the script.

A random observation by the World's Greatest Consulting Detective (Sherlock Holmes) seems applicable to "The Red House" in that a crime may occur in the isolated countryside and remain unsolved whereas the same act would have been readily discovered and prosecuted in a crowded urban area.

How can you run away from a scream?

Did Julie London ever look lovelier? Allene Roberts also shines. Lon McAllister would appear in a total of three films adapted from George Agnew Chamberlain novels.

This movie deserves to be much better known. My guess is that "The Red House" has not gained a significant festival following because high quality 35mm prints may be difficult to come by. I am unaware of any efforts to restore the film, but it is worth rescuing.

Oddly enough, Chamberlain, the author of the 1945 novel "The Red House" that Daves adapted, was better known for his sunny country romances which were adapted for movies such as "Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay!" and "Home in Indiana." The latter film was remade as the musical "April Love." Needless to say, "The Red House" delves into much more disturbing adult themes.

"The Red House" was republished in 2019, but I have yet to read the book. While the film did not disclose the location of the Morgan farm, I was surprised to learn that in the novel it was a farm located in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Chamberlain resided in the same region for many years.

Fans of the cable series "The Sopranos" may recall the "The Pine Barrens" as a Season 3 episode. Incidentally, this episode, however, was not filmed on location as officials in Essex County, New Jersey refused to authorize a filming permit to the production company. The entire shoot was transferred to another New Jersey state park. "The Red House" was was filmed on location near Sonora, California.