The Glass Wall

1953
Approved
1h 22m

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:05

1 Video

48 Photos

Film Noir Drama

Peter is a refugee who wants to make a better life for himself in America, but he doesn't have the proper papers. Desperate for entry, he jumps ship and flees to New York to search for a Wor... Read allPeter is a refugee who wants to make a better life for himself in America, but he doesn't have the proper papers. Desperate for entry, he jumps ship and flees to New York to search for a World War II veteran whom he helped during the war.Peter is a refugee who wants to make a better life for himself in America, but he doesn't have the proper papers. Desperate for entry, he jumps ship and flees to New York to search for a World War II veteran whom he helped during the war.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Freddie
(as Joseph Turkel)

Else Neft

Mrs. Zakoyla

Michael Fox

Toomey

Nesdon Booth

Monroe
(as Ned Booth)

Kathleen Freeman

Zelda

Juney Ellis

Girl Friend

Jack Teagarden

Jack Teagarden

Shorty Rogers and His Giants

Shorty Rogers and His Band
(as Shorty Rogers and His Band)

Leon Alton

Party Guest
(uncredited)

Phil Bloom

Pedestrian
(uncredited)

Director
- Maxwell Shane
Writers
- Ivan Tors
- Maxwell Shane
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Along with Jack Teagarden (trombone) in the nightclub sequence, the band's Jimmy Giuffre (saxophone) on the far left and Shelly Manne (drums) can be seen. Shorty Rogers (trumpet) is leading the band. He and Bob Keene (clarinet) supply off camera solos for the actors.

Goofs
The lights above the elevator on the ground floor of the United Nations building indicate that the elevator travels 36 floors in a few (i.e., 3-5) seconds. That kind of acceleration, speed, and braking would injure occupants of the elevator, especially the elderly operator. That distance in that period of time would exceed 60 mph.

Quotes
Peter: Tell me. Is there not work for everyone here in America?
Maggie: Almost everyone.
Peter: So, how it happens that a girl like you steals a coat?
Maggie: I don't know. I was cold. I needed a coat.
Maggie: [thinking about what she just said] More than that, I was fed up, I guess.
Maggie: [standing up] Did you ever put tips on shoe laces?
Peter: Tip on shoelaces?
Maggie: Yeah. That's what I did for two years.
Maggie: [gesturing about her work] There's a big steal machine here, see, and over here, a giant spool of shoelace. You pull it out like this, twenty-seven inches at a time, all day. And then you stamp a pedal and a ton of steel bangs down, cuts the lace and rolls the tip on. Bang like that, and again. Bang, all day. You're scared you'll smash your finger. At the same time, you gotta keep your eye on the assistant foreman. Because every time he comes by he pinches you. You do this until your brain goes numb, and you get thirty-five bucks a week. And then, all of a sudden, you have an appendix attack, an operation, and you're out flat on your back. And you just can't get back on you're feet. And you get fed up. And you want to strike back at somebody, anybody!
Maggie: [after she heaves a sigh] And you steal a coat.

Connections
References Arch of Triumph (1948)

User reviews38

Review

Featured review

great photog and acting in this immigration tale

"Playhouse 90"-style drama of Vittorio Gassman trying to enter our country after World War II. He meets Gloria Grahame as she is stealing a coat (!) and finds her shabby room gloriously comfortable. I found it all quite entertaining: great music (jazz), cinematography, grubby characters who are nice to look at. The immigration theme is well-done but with a few annoyingly goofy plot turns.