Betrayal, Murder and…Justice?

 Scarlet Street (1945) – Christopher Cross is a middle aged bank clerk, trapped in an unhappy marriage. One night he rescues, and falls for a beautiful young woman.  It turns out, she didn’t need or want to be rescued, but convinced that he has money she plots with her grifter boyfriend to clean him out.  Chris has not money, but he is a painter with a gift.  Those paintings will lead to murder, and leave the three of them in places they never intended to go.

Directed by Fritz Lang                                    Starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Dan Duryea

Why I Liked It – Three leads are brilliant here.  Great noir tragedy.

This movie kept surprising me.  Seemed like a pretty standard noir murder mystery, but it comes with a couple of nice twists that kept me interested to the end.  It was the first American film done by legendary director Fritz Lang, and one of his favorites.  He does just what needs to be done, and lets his cast take care of the rest.  If you associate Lang with the ponderous expressionism of “Metropolis”, you will be pleasantly surprised here.

And what a cast he has!  Robinson stars as the middle aged, mild mannered Chris Cross.  Cross has worked for many years at the bank, rising in the trust and esteem of his boss, though never making much headway financially.  He comes across the lovely Kitty March (Bennett) getting roughed up by her boyfriend (Duryea), he intercedes and helps her escape.  Robinson is playing against his more common roles.  He’s weak, and easily manipulated by the young woman.  Bennett is fine in her role, but I was taken with the performance by Duryea.  Johnny Prince is slime, a user and abuser.  Lang doesn’t gloss over any of what’s going on, Cross’s multiple betrayals, March’s manipulation through sex, and Prince’s heartless avarice.  Together they will spin the story into it’s inevitable ending.  And it’s not a “Hollywood Ending” by any stretch of the imagination.  

The movie was banned in Milwaukee, Atlanta, and New York for being “profane.” Modern viewers won’t be much offended.  It is worth looking for this one.  Great performances, nice twist at the ending.

The copyright on this movie was allowed to lapse, so it is now in the public domain.  You’ll find copies of it everywhere.  Find the best quality you can, I watched on a streaming service, and enjoy.

Rating – **** Recommended