House by the River (1950)

House by the River is a 1950 American crime melodrama directed by Fritz Lang and starring Louis Hayward, Lee Bowman and Jane Wyatt. It is based on the 1921 novel of the same title by A. P. Herbert.

Director – Fritz Lang

Writers – Mel Dinelli (screenplay), A.P. Herbert (novel “The House by the River”)

Cast –
Louis Hayward as Stephen Byrne
Jane Wyatt as Marjorie Byrne
Lee Bowman as John Byrne
Dorothy Patrick as Emily Gaunt
Ann Shoemaker as Mrs. Ambrose
Jody Gilbert as Flora Bantam
Peter Brocco as Harry – Coroner
Howland Chamberlain as District Attorney
Margaret Seddon as Mrs. Whittaker – Party Guest
Sarah Padden as Mrs. Beach
Kathleen Freeman as Effie Ferguson – Party Guest
Will Wright as Inspector Sarten
Leslie Kimmell as Mr. Gaunt
Effie Laird as Mrs. Gaunt
Bob Burns as Courtroom Spectator (Uncredited)

Watch “House by the River” (1950)

Plot

A rich novelist, Stephen Byrne, who lives and works by a river, accidentally kills his attractive maid after she begins screaming when he makes a drunken pass. The writer manipulates his brother, John, who is physically impaired with a limp, to help him dispose of the body. Making use of a sack, which Stephen has borrowed from John for carrying firewood, they stuff the maid inside and dump her into the river. Days later, the sack and body float up and pass Stephen’s house. He goes onto the water and desperately tries to retrieve it, but fails. The police recover the bundle and, because John’s initials have been stencilled on the sack, it is all traceable to him.

An inquest is held and, to Stephen’s great pleasure, a cloud of suspicion hangs over John, who is tortured by his role in the situation and contemplates suicide. He and Stephen’s wife, Marjorie, harbour feelings for each other. Stephen, meanwhile, has used the maid’s disappearance and death as publicity for his books. Looking to reap great financial gain, he begins writing a novel specifically about the crime; in it he implicates himself. The circumstances are resolved after Stephen resorts to deliberate attempts at murder.