The Glass Wall

The Glass Wall

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Maxwell Shane
Produced by Ivan Tors
Screenplay by Maxwell Shane
Ivan Tors
Starring Vittorio Gassman
Gloria Grahame
Music by Leith Stevens
Cinematography Joseph F. Biroc
Edited by Stanley Frazen
Herbert L. Strock
Production
company
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • March 20, 1953 (1953-03-20) (San Francisco)
Running time
 82 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Glass Wall is a 1953 American black-and-white drama film noir directed by Maxwell Shane and starring Vittorio Gassman and Gloria Grahame. The film was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The title refers to the design of the tower of United Nations headquarters in New York.

It tied with two other films for the Golden Leopard, the top prize at the Locarno International Film Festival, in 1953.[1]

Plot

After the end of World War II, Peter Kuban (Vittorio Gassman), a Hungarian displaced person and survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, stows away on a ship bound for New York City. However, he is spotted and held for the authorities. When they arrive, he claims that he qualifies for entry under an exception for those who helped Allied soldiers during the war, but all he knows about the paratrooper he hid from the enemy is that his name is Tom and he plays clarinet in a jazz band in New York City's Times Square.The immigration authorities led by Inspector Bailey say that without better documentation he must be sent back to Europe.

He jumps off the ship, breaking some ribs, and starts searching for Tom. He encounters an unemployed ex-factory worker named Maggie Summers (Gloria Grahame). When she steals a coat in a restaurant, Peter helps her elude the police. They go to her apartment, where she tends his injury as best she can and learns his story. When her landlady, Mrs. Hinckley, threatens to evict her for being behind on her rent, Peter gives her all the money he has. Eddie Hinckley, the landlady's son, barges in and tries to get amorous with Maggie. Peter bursts out of hiding and starts fighting him, but gets the worst of it. Maggie knocks Eddie out with a chair and flees with Peter. The Hinckleys notify the police. Meanwhile, Tom sees Peter's picture on the front page of a newspaper. He wants to go to the immigration department, but his girlfriend Nancy persuades him to attend an important audition instead. Tom impresses band leader Jack Teagarden, but leaves abruptly to try to help Peter.

The fugitives are recognized in the subway. The police grab Maggie, but Peter gets away. She meets up with Tom. After hearing Tom's story, Inspector Bailey believes that Peter can stay, but only if they can reach him before 7 am when the ship he arrived on will depart and, by law, Peter must be jailed and deported. The trio drive around searching. Peter slips into an unoccupied taxi and falls asleep. When burlesque dancer Tanya gets into the taxi after work, she recognizes Peter from the newspaper photo. She takes him to her apartment for rest and a meal. When he asks why, she explains that her real name is Bella Zakoyla, and that she is a fellow "Hunky". Her immigrant mother approves, but her brother Freddie does not want to risk getting into trouble, saying that it is the responsibility of the United Nations. The loud argument rouses Peter, sleeping in the other room, and he slips away.

Acting on Freddie's remark, Peter heads toward the United Nations building in the early morning hours. He is recognized on the way and the police are alerted. Peter delivers a soliloquy to an empty meeting room with places marked for representatives of the U.N.'s member states. He calls for recognition that peace and freedom for the world require peace and freedom for every individual. The police, Maggie, Tom, and Bailey pursue Peter through the halls of the U.N. Peter panics and flees to the roof, where he contemplates jumping. Maggie and Tom reach him and at the sound of Tom's voice Peter collapsed onto the roof. All reassure Peter that he is now safe.

Cast

Background

The film was shot on location in New York City and at the United Nations building (the "glass wall" of the title) on First Avenue at 46th Street in Manhattan.

Reception

Critical response

In 2011, film critic Dennis Schwartz liked the film and wrote a positive review, "Columbia's off-beat postwar noir project, whose title is taken from the U.N.'s glass wall, turned out rather well despite a number of awkward moments as it promotes its leftist agenda. Maxwell Shane (Fear in the Night/Nightmare/City Across the River) passionately directs this gritty immigration picture in a darker light than the usual idealistic films about Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and strangely enough its concern for immigrants is still relevant in today's modern world. It's co-written by Shane, Ivan Shane and Ivan Tors with poignancy and feeling. It works best as film noir, that is better than its sob story/chase story thriller aspects because it's so moving, haunting and compelling in its characterization of a desperate Holocaust survivor on-the-run ... The atmospheric pic is well-served by cinematographer Joseph F. Biroc's great location shots of a seedy neon-lit Times Square at night and of an impressive though empty U. N. in the early morning. It also has much clout as a urban thriller, even if it gets heavy-handed at times and cannot be deemed a great film--just a film that sticks with you because it's so earnest and satisfying."[2]

Awards

Wins

References

  1. ↑ "Winners of the Golden Leopard". Locarno. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  2. ↑ Schwartz, Dennis. Ozus' World Movie Reviews, film review, January 26, 2011. Accessed: July 8, 2013.
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