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.

Read all highest rated reviews

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?

Read all highest rated reviews

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!

Read all highest rated reviews

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.

Read all highest rated reviews

A Classic Film Noir - and Great Entertainment!

A Customer from South East England, 1st July, 2010

This as near a perfect crime movie was one is going to get and it is gripping from the first scene onwards. The plot is complex, the characters interesting, the acting impressive, the direction flawless and at every stages one wants to know 'What happened next?' - the hallmark of a good story. Though made over 65 years ago it is as fresh and gripping as if made yesterday. Like so many great film noirs it feels as if it is set in a parallel, and perhaps never-existing, urban universe and the main characters have something of the mythic about them. Most impressive is the surreal and very economic trial sequence near the end of the movie - it comes unexpectedly, but is superbly efficient in accelerating the story to its natural end. The whole is a wonderful piece of entertainment - don't miss it!

Read all recent reviews

No crazy camera angles

InspectorSands from , 26th March, 2010

Don't expect any of Fritz Lang's slanted sets or crazy camera angles, this is fairly customary film noir I found. It's not plausible that two ne'er do wells would believe cashier Robinson is a big-shot artist with dough to throw around, even if he can come up with the readies on occasion. Only Robinson pleases in this, the two out to fleece him are two-dimensional, though the final scene is a chiller. This could stand a remake, but as it is it's not essential viewing.

Read all recent reviews

the best of Classic Film

Declan6107 from from Glasgow, 29th December, 2009

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

Read all recent reviews

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.

Read all recent reviews