Pulp Into Pictures: 21 Cornell Woolrich Stories That Made It To the Big Screen; Plus “Never Open That Door”

Ángel Magana in "Never Open That Door" (1952).

Bedarkened, beshadowed Argentinian film noir

treated to a stunning restoration, disc release  

By Paul Parcellin

“Never Open That Door” (1952) Blu-ray and DVD, Flicker Alley (158 minutes) 

A lot of movies never quite get author Cornell Woolrich’s tone right, especially the films made in Hollywood. Their forced upbeat endings just don’t do justice to the pitch black darkness of his novels and short stories.

That’s not the case with the Argentinian produced “Never Open That Door,” a two part adaptation of two Woolrich stories. A beautifully restored Blu-ray and DVD edition of the film was released in June 2024.

Part One, "Someone is on the Phone,” is the story of a man trying to help his sister resolve her gambling debts and get rid of a blackmailer. He takes action, and as is often the case in Woolrich’s universe, misreads the signals, resulting in a tragic outcome.

In Part Two, “The Hummingbird Comes Home,” a blind woman living with her niece is visited by her son, who has been serving a prison sentence. The woman holds out hope that he’s still dedicated to her although all signs point in the opposite direction. 

Both stories pull no punches and end in darkness that’s true to Woolrich’s texts. 

A third part, “If I Should Die Before I Wake” is also included in the disc. It was originally intended to round out a trilogy, but was cut from the lineup and fleshed out into a single, stand-alone feature film. In it, a boy knows that a serial killer is preying on his classmates but can’t get anyone to listen to him, even his police inspector father.

Themes that run through all three are loyalty, honor and duty. In each of the trio a deep abiding sense of dedication to ones ideals leads to tragic outcomes. The brother who avenges his sister’s suicide in "Someone is on the Phone” is overbearing and hot tempered. His brand of loyalty masks his need to dominate and control his younger sibling. As the story begins we assume that he’s a jealous husband looking after his straying wife. That they are siblings comes as a revelation and hints at the man’s deeply repressed incestuous impulses. His need to get even with an anonymous third party speaks more of the need to sure up his bruised ego and his family’s honor, and less of finding justice for his sister. 

The blind woman in “The Hummingbird Comes Home” is unprepared for the man her son has become when he returns home, the police on his tail. Despite his insensitive behavior toward her, she clings to the hope that he’s still a good boy, until he proves her wrong.

Loyalty and honor, as interpreted by the young boy in “If I Should Die Before I Wake,” is put to the test. He promises to not breathe a word to anyone about the nice man who gives free candy and colorful sticks of chalk to little girls. Like the protagonists in the other two stories, he is, at first, unable to comprehend the hell that results when blind devotion to ideals, family and friends opens the door to evil.

Directed by Carlos Hugo Christensen, the film was preserved by the Film Noir Foundation in 2013 and stunningly restored through UCLA Film & Television Archive.  

Here are some of the films adapted from Cornell Woolrich’s short stories and novels. A number of them were written under one of his pseudonyms, William Irish:

Kevin McCarthy, Gage Clarke, "Nightmare."

“Nightmare” (1956). Based on a novel of the same title. A musician dreams he killed a man, then awakens to find evidence linking him to his imagined crime. His brother-in-law, a police detective, doesn’t believe the story. With Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy and Connie Russell. 

“Obsession” (1954). Based on the short story "Silent as the Grave" (as William Irish).  A circus trapeze artist is injured and is replaced by the performer’s former partner. The replacement is murdered and another man is accused of the crime. But some suspect the trapeze artist is to blame. With Michèle Morgan and Raf Vallone. 

“Rear Window” (1954) based on the story “It Had to Be Murder.” A recuperating news photographer watches his neighbors as his leg heals. Odd things occur in one apartment. It looks a lot like murder. With James Stewart, Grace Kelly and Raymond Burr. 




“Never Open That Door” (1952). Based on the stories “Somebody on the Phone” and “Humming Bird Comes Home” (as William Irish). In the first segment a man tries to avenge the death of his sister, who commits suicide over gambling debts. In the second, A former inmate returns home where he is expected by his blind mother, who believes he has reformed. With Ángel Magaña, Renée Dumas, Roberto Escalada and Ilde Pirovano. 

Néstor Zavarce, "If I Should Die Before I Wake."

“If I Should Die Before I Wake” (1952), based on a story with the same title (as William Irish). A young boy’s dad is a policeman investigating serial killings of local children. The boy befriends  a girl who tells him of a man who gives her free lollipops. She makes the boy vow never to tell anyone. With Néstor Zavarce, Blanca del Prado, Floren Delbene. 




“No Man of Her Own” (1950). Based on the novel “I Married a Dead Man” (as William Irish). A pregnant woman takes on the identity of a railroad-crash victim, but her ex-husband traps her in a blackmail scheme. With Barbara Stanwyck, Lyle Bettger and John Lund. 

“The Window” (1949). Based on the story “The Boy Cried Murder” (also known as “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”). A young boy witnesses a murder but struggles to convince anyone of what he’s seen. With Bobby Driscoll, Barbara Hale and Arthur Kennedy. 

“Night Has a Thousand Eyes” (1948). Based on the novel of the same title.

A fake mind reader develops real supernatural powers, but he soon finds that his gift brings more trouble than it’s are worth. With Edward G. Robinson, John Lund and Gail Russell. 

“I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes” (1948). Based on a story of the same title.

A tap dancer throws his shoes out the window to silence howling cats. When a neighbor turns up dead, the hoofer’s footprints are found at the crime scene. With Don Castle, Elyse Knox and Regis Toomey. 




“The Return of the Whistler” (1948). Based on the story “All at Once, No Alice.” A man's fiancée vanishes, and he hires a private detective to find her. But the case proves much more complex than he could have imagined. With Lenore Aubert and Michael Duane. 

“The Guilty” (1947). Based on the story “He Looked Like Murder.” Two roommates meet twin girls and one of the sisters gets murdered. That puts her boyfriend on the spot. With Bonita Granville and Don Castle.

Leo Penn, Teala Loring, "Fall Guy."

“Fall Guy” (1947). Based on the short story “Cocaine.” A man recalls meeting someone in a bar and going to a party. The rest is a blur. But there’s big trouble when a murdered girl’s body is discovered. With Robert Armstrong, Teala Loring and Leo Penn.

“Fear in the Night” (1946), adapted from the short story "Nightmare" (as William Irish). A musician dreams he killed a man, then finds evidence that he did commit the crime. With Kevin McCarthy and Edward G. Robinson.

“The Chase” (1946), based on the novel “The Black Path of Fear.” A down and out veteran is hired as chauffeur to a gangster, but the vet gets too involved with the his boss’s wife. With Michèle Morgan, Steve Cochran and Robert Cummings. 

Peter Lorre, "Black Angel."

"Black Angel" (1946). Based on the novel of the same title. An alcoholic pianist investigates his ex-wife's murder. With Peter Lorre, Dan Duryea, Constance Dowling and June Vincent. 

“Deadline at Dawn” (1946), based on the novel (as William Irish). A sailor and a dance-hall girl try to solve a murder. He’s got the victim’s cash and only has until daybreak to figure it all out. With Bill Williams and Susan Hayward.  

“The Mark of the Whistler” (1944), based on the radio drama “The Whistler,” (as William Irish). A drifter claims the money in a dormant bank account, but others come to claim it. With Paul Guilfoyle, John Calvert, Janis Carter, Richard Dix, and Porter Hall.

Ella Raines, Alan Curtis, "Phantom Lady."

“Phantom Lady” (1944), based on the novel “Phantom Lady” (as William Irish). A woman races against time to clear a friend wrongfully accused of murder. With Franchot Tone, Ella Raines, Aurora Miranda and Alan Curtis. 

“The Leopard Man” (1943). From the novel "Black Alibi.” A seemingly-tame leopard used for a publicity stunt escapes and kills a young girl. With Margo and Dennis O’Keefe.

“Street of Chance” (1942), Based on the novel “The Black Curtain.” A man with amnesia uncovers his involvement in a murder. With Burgess Meredith and Claire Trevor.

Rita Hayworth, Doreen MacGregor, "Convicted."

“Convicted” (1938). Based on the story “Face Work” ( as William Irish). A police detective helps a night-club singer track down a killer. The singer’s brother has been sentenced to die in the electric chair. With Rita Hayworth, Marc Lawrence and Charles Quigley.