Scarlet Street (1946)

2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

wrongnumber76#1 from LONDON, 17th December, 2003

Fritz Lang is, of course, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. ?Metropolis? alone is enough to place him in a poetic pantheon of creators ? his other expressionist works of Weimar-era cinema, including ?M? and the Nazi-baiting ?Dr. Mabuse? films are milestones of the form. After fleeing the Nazi?s, Lang?s career in Hollywood had brilliant flashes but was marred by ?B movie? budgets and constant clashes with stars, studio heads and financiers. However, even though the studio cut it considerably to simplify the story and downplay the psychological complexity of the work, Scarlet Street is a masterpiece of Noir ? and explores themes of pimping and prostitution considered taboo at the time. A remake of a Jean Renoir?s La Chienne, Scarlet Street takes a Noir formula to new heights of dark fatalism and bitterness. Edward G. Robinson, usually the ?heavy?, plays against type as a henpecked bank clerk who moonlights as a painter. The film itself takes the form of Greek or even Jacobean tragedy and unfolds on many levels as a lonely man seeking love is exploited and pushed further and further over the brink. The use of ambient sound is innovative, the lighting and cinematography are nearly flawless. The DVD, however, is a disgrace. The transfer looks as if it is an old TV version that someone has blurred badly to remove traces of dust and scratches. Its sad that once again a bunch of chancers have bought the rights to a masterpiece by one of the most important directors of the 20th century, blurred it a bit and have banged it on to a budget DVD. Scarlet Street should be properly restored and presented by professionals, like M and Metropolis and not presented in this disrespectful, bargain basement manner. Still unmissable in any form, though.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Lang in film noir territory

Zamy from , 18th May, 2005

Like 'You only live once' this is one of Fritz Lang's 'trap' movies where the main protaganist becomes progressively emeshed in a set of circumstances that lead inexorably to a tragic conclusion. Edward G Robinson is highly believable as the little cashier deluded by Joan Bennett's classy broad and her abusive lover, Dan Duryea who both provide excellent support. Lang's direction is superb and even when Dudley Nichol's script takes one turn too many he keeps the whole movie afloat. The quality of the transfer to DVD is indeed poor, which is surprising since Eureka did an excellent job with 'M' and the Mabuse films. Makes one wonder if this is a pirate version?

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Classic Film Noir.

donna2 from warks, 9th February, 2005

When this was pushed through my letterbox I really didn't know what to expect. I wasn't disappointed, a superb story, brilliant direction and acting. And the irony, oh the irony!

Highly recommended!

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Scarlet Street

sweetcorn from from Glasgow, 19th January, 2005

I was very pleasantly surprised by the commentary on this DVD. Instead of the usual moronic drivel, we have an intelligent exposition of 'film noir', an explanation of the way that camera angles, lighting etc are used to create mood, a discussion of the symbols and metaphors in the script, as well as biographies of the director and leading players. I would recommend this DVD both for the film itself and for the excellent commentary.

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the best of Classic Film

Declan6107 from , 29th December, 2009

the other reveiws yes .but too watch this movie is well ahead of its time .10 out of 10

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Scarlet Street

stumpymuffin from , 28th March, 2009

Very similar to The Woman in the Window, not quite so good, but still very watchable with EGR.

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Not as old as you think

Cato from , 22nd June, 2007

Made in 1945, this film seemed a lot older, both in ther quality of the print and the rather old fashioned story, which I believe had been written in France in the 20's. Although the leading woman, well played by Joan Bennett, is a prostitute, the term is never mentioned during the course of the film, and its hard to think that the bank cashier (an excellent Edward G Robinson), would have had such an elaborate party and present for just 25 years of service. But although the plot is a little leaky, (especially all the business about the mistaken artists), the acting is superb, from the two aforementioned, and from Dan Duryea, as the girl's lover and pimp. The direction by Fritz Lang is also strong, with references to his German Expressionist training. The last ten minutes of the plot does go some way in making up for the preceding 90 minutes, where Robinson is consumed with guilt and sorrow for his actions.

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I lost those wings a long time ago.

Chester Dent from London, England, 4th June, 2007

Robinson is typically solid as the impotent and inconspicuous cashier, a flawed character so lifelike that he easily bags your sympathy when he's manipulated by scheming prostitute Joan Bennett and her pimp Dan Duryea. A grim, cynical and sordid pyschological film where all human dignity and hope are undone which features some appropriately claustrophobic photography and vicious black humour.

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