A Window in London

A Window in London

Year: 1940

Runtime: 77 mins

Language: English

Director: Herbert Mason

Thriller

After seeing what appears to be a murder, a man discovers the crime is an elaborate illusion performed by a charismatic magician and his wife. The magician’s obsessive jealousy drives him to kill his spouse, plunging the discontented husband into a tangled web of deception and danger far beyond what he imagined.

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Timeline & Setting – A Window in London (1940)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Window in London (1940). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The story unfolds in a contemporary London setting with a mix of day and night life, including hotel work, stage performances, and riverfront nightlife. It emphasizes urban bustle, modern conveniences, and the constant motion of a metropolis that never stops.

Location

London, Dolphin Square, Waterloo Bridge, hotel, nightclub, Tube

Set in bustling London, the story centers on a prestigious apartment block (Dolphin Square), a hotel, a theatre, and the riverfront. The action hops between the night-shifted hotel switchboard, the stage show, and construction sites by Waterloo Bridge. The city’s streets, clubs, and tube stations provide the backdrop for love, deception, and danger.

🏙️ Urban 🗺️ London 🎭 Nightlife 🏨 Hotels

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

Main Characters – A Window in London (1940)

Meet the key characters of A Window in London (1940), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Louie Zoltini

A bad-tempered magician and stage illusionist who rules his world with jealousy and theatrics. His volatile temper, controlling behavior, and suspicion of Peter drive the central conflict, culminating in a devastating act of violence. He underestimates others and overestimates his own power.

🎭 Villain 🪄 Magician 💢 Temperamental

Peter Thompson

A crane operator and Pat's husband who is brave, well-meaning, and quick to act. His attempt to help a fellow performer backfires, dragging him into suspicion and trouble. He grapples with guilt and loyalty as events spiral out of control.

💪 Protagonist 🧭 Loyal 🎯 Determined

Pat Thompson

A hotel switchboard operator who endures a tough shift and a setback at work. She remains devoted to her husband and navigates personal shifts as her own life takes a brighter turn. Her arc highlights resilience in urban life.

👷‍♀️ Working 💖 Loyal 🕊️ Hopeful

Vivienne Zoltini

The glamorous stage partner and wife of Zoltini, Vivienne embodies charm and ambition but becomes entangled in a dangerous love affair with Peter. Her decisions propel the plot toward a tragic finale.

💃 Performer 💔 Unfaithful 💼 Ambitious

Max Preston

An energetic impresario who sees Vivienne as a ticket to bigger stages and profits. He embodies opportunism and charm, manipulating relationships and outcomes to keep power and control.

🕴️ Impresario 💰 Opportunist 🎭 Charismatic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

Major Themes – A Window in London (1940)

Explore the central themes of A Window in London (1940), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Illusion vs Reality

A magician's staged murder in a nightclub blurs the line between illusion and truth. Peter's belief in a heroic act collapses when the ruse is revealed, setting off a cascade of consequences for him and those around him. The narrative repeatedly tests what characters think they know against what actually happens.

💔 Love and Betrayal

Vivienne's affair and marriage to Zoltini pull Peter and Pat into a dangerous triangle. Affection clashes with jealousy as trust erodes—culminating in a fatal rift that only becomes clear in the final moments. The relationships in the story are defined as much by desire as by the consequences of acting on it.

🏗️ Class and Ambition

The film contrasts working-class life with show-business glamour, from the crane operator husband to the impresario Max and his nightclub world. Ambition drives characters to risk livelihoods, relationships, and even lives. It highlights how economic motivation and social status shape choices in a modern city.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:51

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Fatalistic Noir Thrillers like A Window in London

Stories where ordinary lives are ensnared by cynical twists of fate.If you liked the tense, fate-driven plot of A Window in London, explore more movies like it. These similar thrillers feature ordinary people caught in webs of crime and deception, often set against gritty urban backdrops, where the feeling of inevitable doom creates a gripping, anxious experience.

fatalisticnoirsuspensefulanxiousgrittycynicalunsettling

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern typically begins with an innocent bystander witnessing or stumbling into a criminal act. This event pulls them into a downward spiral, pitting them against cunning, often charismatic antagonists. The journey is defined by paranoia, pursuit, and a bleak realization that escaping unscathed is unlikely.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared atmosphere of existential dread and their plot structure, which hinges on coincidence and the inescapable nature of consequences. They deliver a consistent experience of high tension, moral gray areas, and a pervasive sense that fate is against the protagonist.

Movies about Illusion and Deception in Relationships like A Window in London

Tales where romantic partnerships are built on dangerous lies and manipulation.For viewers who enjoyed the themes of jealousy and marital deception in A Window in London, this list features similar movies about dangerous relationships built on lies. Discover stories of charismatic but manipulative partners, obsessive love, and the shocking violence that can erupt when illusions are shattered.

jealousydeceptionpsychologicalunsettlingobsessivemarital strainbetrayal

Narrative Summary

These narratives often focus on a central, charismatic but unstable figure—like a performer or con artist—whose need for control and penchant for illusion poisons their closest relationship. The story unfolds as a partner or observer peels back layers of deception, leading to a climactic confrontation where the carefully constructed facade collapses, sometimes with deadly results.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects films through their deep exploration of themes like jealousy, the performative nature of identity, and the psychological damage of living a lie within a relationship. They share a heavy emotional weight, a tense tone, and a focus on the destructive potential of hidden truths.

Unlock the Full Story of A Window in London

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Window in London in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Window in London is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Window in London Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Window in London, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Window in London Summary

A Window in London Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Window in London with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Window in London Timeline

A Window in London Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Window in London that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

A Window in London Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Window in London

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Window in London: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About A Window in London

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Discover movies like A Window in London that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.