Side Street **** (1949, Farley Granger, Cathy O’Donnell, James Craig, Paul Kelly, Jean Hagen) – Classic Movie Review 5,262

The sterling 1949 film noir crime drama Side Street is a memorable rematch for Farley Granger and Cathy O’Donnell after They Live by Night (1948).

Director Anthony Mann’s sterling 1949 film noir crime drama Side Street is a memorable rematch for Farley Granger and Cathy O’Donnell, the two sweet young stars of They Live by Night (1948).

Granger plays downtrodden post clerk Joe Norson, who is struggling to support his young wife Ellen (O’Donnell), and so turns to crime when steals money from the office of a shady lawyer. But of course he soon finds himself in way over his head in trouble.

Written by Sydney Boehm, this downbeat but affecting story is earnestly and effectively performed in a neatly crafted, worthwhile film.

Also among the enormous cast is James Craig, Paul Kelly, Jean Hagen, Paul Harvey, Edmon Ryan, Charles McGraw, Ed Max, Adele Jergens, Harry Bellaver, Whit Bissell, John Gallaudet, Esther Somers and Harry Antrim.

It is shot on location in New York City and climaxes in a pioneering car chase. It is partly set around the long-demolished Third Avenue El elevated railway.

The budget was $935,000, but it earned only $777,000 worldwide total at the box office, and MGM recorded a loss of $467,000.

Release date: December 14, 1949 (US).

Side Street is directed by Anthony Mann, runs 83 minutes, is made and released by MGM, is written by Sydney Boehm (story and screenplay), is shot in black and white by Joseph Ruttenberg, is produced by Sam Zimbalist, is scored by Lennie Hayton, and is designed by Daniel B Cathcart Fand Cedric Gibbons.

The cast are Farley Granger as Joe Norson, Cathy O’Donnell as Ellen Norson. James Craig as Georgie Garsell, Paul Kelly as Captain Walter Anderson, Jean Hagen as Harriet Sinton, Paul Harvey as Emil Lorrison Edmon Ryan as Victor Backett, Charles McGraw as detective Stanley Simon, Edwin Max as Nick Drumman, Adele Jergens as Lucille ‘Lucky’ Colner, Harry Bellaver as cab driver Larry Giff, Whit Bissell as chief teller Harold Simpsen, John Gallaudet as bar owner Gus Heldon,  Esther Somers as Ellen’s mother Mrs Malby, Harry Antrim as Ellen’s father Mr Malby, Ben Cooper as young man at dry cleaner, King Donovan as Detective Gottschalk, David Bauer as cab driver Smitty, Anthony Dexter as Radio Clerk, Herb Vigran as Photographer, Richard Basehart as bank teller, Alberto Morin as Ismot Kimal, and James Westerfield as Patrolman Charlie.

Granger is also famous for his two films with Hitchcock, Rope (1948) and Strangers on a Train (1951), plus Visconti’s Senso (1954) and The Naked Street (1955).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5,262

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