The Passing of the Third Floor Back

The contrived ending lands with a resounding thud, but up until then it’s an engaging ensemble piece about the residents of a snobby boarding house having their selfishness challenged by an angelic stranger. Veidt brings that otherworldly presence and Rene Ray is adorable as the downtrodden maid, but most other characters are too thinly drawn to enjoy a substantial arc, limiting the efficacy of its rather basic message.

Quite powerful story about basic human cruelty with the mysterious Conrad Veidt being sent, from somewhere, to patch things up. A lot about this plot is defused and people are shown from all their human aspects. One kind of feel sorry for them too and their attitudes are manipulated. The film is always at it's best when it's Veidt's scene. He's got an enormous presence! It doesn't preach too hard, but still this movie would have benefited from more scores being settled in key scenes.