The Woman in the Window (1944), directed by Fritz Lang, tells the story of psychology professor Richard Wanley (Edward G. Robinson) who meets and becomes attracted with a young femme fatale. Fritz Lang changed the film’s original ending to conform to the moralistic Production Code of the time. The term “film noir” was originated as a genre description in part because of this movie. It was applied to American films in French film magazines in 1946, the year when The Maltese Falcon (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), Laura (1944), Murder, My Sweet (1944), and The Woman in the Window (1944) were released in France. In Spain The Woman in the Window was released under the title La mujer del cuadro.
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A Crime is Afoot 