Side Street
Tags: murder

Plot synopsis:
The film chronicles the exploits of three Irish brothers. Jimmy is a cop, John is an emergency room doctor, and Dennis, as far as his family is aware of, is a very wealthy businessman, even having paid for John to go to medical school. Their parents, Nora and Tom, are very proud of all three sons. Jimmy is promoted on the police force, and begins the investigation of a murder involving the infamous Muller gang.
As this crime drama unfolds, the viewer is introduced to Dennis's other life. In reality he is a powerful racketeer and bootlegger, but he keeps his two personas separate in order to protect his family from any consequences of his criminal activity. However, when Jimmy's fiancé, Kathleen Doyle, attends a party thrown by Muller at one of his houses. During the party, she inadvertently learns that Silk is a killer hired by Muller, who was responsible for the murder her fiancé is investigating.
Meanwhile, John goes out on an emergency call to care for a man who has been injured in a drunken brawl. While he is treating the injured man, he accidentally discovers that Muller is none other than his brother, Dennis. When Kathleen meets Jimmy and tells him about her discovery, unbeknownst to them, she is overheard by one of Muller's gang, who then plots with the other gang members to ambush and kill Jimmy.
On Thanksgiving, Dennis realizes his cover has been blown, and he realizes his brother, Jimmy, is in danger. He and John rush off to warn Jimmy, but as they arrive at the ambush, Dennis saves his brother, but gets shot by his own men instead. He dies in the arms of both of his brothers, who later tell their parents that he has gone off on another one of his mysterious journeys, perhaps this time for good.

Review: A dazzling aerial shot taken high above the Empire State Building opens Anthony Mann's Side Street, and, throughout the movie, glimpses of that New York obelisk recur  sometimes dark and menacing, sometimes caught at the vanishing point of an urban canyon.
War veteran Farley Granger tries to make ends meet by shouldering a mail bag part-time; he and his pregnant wife Cathy O'Donnell (the pair reunited from the previous year's They Live By Night) live in a bedroom of his folks' railroad flat.
His trail leads him to a Village dive where one of the numbers in Craig's little black book (Jean Hagen) croons `Easy to Love....'Side Street hews to the classic noir narrative of the average guy caught up in dark forces he can neither understand nor control, and Granger gives it one of his finer performances, perplexed and terrified at what he's unleashed.
And while O'Donnell's role is conventional and secondary, Hagen gives her brief sequence as a boozy moth drawn to a fatal flame a poignant spark (Jergens, platinumed and sequined, does her even briefer sequence proud).To the extent that Mann indulges in social comment, he leaves it to be inferred (the same year, Granger appeared in the far more explicitly leftist Edge of Doom).
From then on, everything Joe tries gets him deeper into trouble.Over-long and over-complicated, but competently made and in best film noir style makes good use of light and shade.
Then it moves right into the saga of Joe (as in 'Average Joe' one might think), who is a postal delivery man who gets tempted by greed when he realizes the same amount is left in a drawer of one of the people he drops off for- $200- which would be just enough to get some new things for his wife and their kid on the way.
Even if the femme fatale is reduced to a supporting role (Jean Hagen as the floozy Harriet, a nightclub singer who has a great scene with Granger's Joe), you've got the existential protagonist who's down on his luck and can't stand being a criminal for too long, and the cops who are out to get him and whomever, and the real villain (George played by James Craig fairly typically) who is the most desperate of all to escape at all costs.
Granger and O'Connell come close to doing a reprisal of their parts in They Live By Night, only this time with the complication of a baby thrown in right away, and the sides of good conscience always present except for an instance (really amusing) when she screams on the phone to Joe "RUN, RUN AWAY" when prodded to talk him out of what he's doing by the cops.A lot of this, to those who are only somewhat familiar with the attitude of a solid noir thriller, isn't too surprising, and comes close to being average in story material.
If for nothing else it's a tour-de-force as far as pure film-making goes, as shots in the shadows are incredible (I loved the nightclub scene in the first images, cutting back and forth between Joe and Harriet), and the editing to go along with it is taut and hard-edged for the period and budget, particularly in the climactic chase through New York City's downtown areas.
The photography and different angles the camera was placed in, were the work of Anthony Mann who was able to create great film stories on a low budget.
In this film, Farley Granger,(Joe Norson),"Strangers on a Train", plays a mailman who is tempted beyond words and makes a very bad mistake he will have to live with.
His wife is played by Cathy O'Donnell,(Ellen) who is a very loving and trusting wife who thinks the world of her Joe and tells him she is going to have a new addition to their family.
This is no exception, with good angles, shadows and light and a great big-city feel of New York.Along the way, we get a not-untypical noirish tale of an basically-good guy who makes a dumb move and pays for his sins even after his conscience gets the best of him and he tries to atone.
They still make films with these kind of plots and they are almost always interesting.Farley Granger does a fine job in the lead as the dupe, "Joe Norson," who is too weak to pass up easy money and pays for it.
For me, it was strange seeing James Craig as the "heavy." I mainly know him from totally opposite, All-American characters in films like "The Human Comedy" and "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes." Here, he's a viscous thug.The city of New York might be the real second star of this film.
Man On The Run. Farley Granger dominates this urban crime drama about a man named Joe Norson, a down-on-his-luck mailman who happens on to a wad of cash, and impulsively steals it, not knowing that the money is connected to the murder of a well-known woman.
Part-time letter carrier Joe Norson, Farley Granger, has dreams about him and his wife living the life of luxury and traveling the world over in style.
In reality Joe is down on his luck barely able to support himself with his job, as a part-time flexible, in the Post office much less his wife Ellen, Cathy O'Donnell, and a little one on the way.
What Joe is soon to find out is that the money is a blackmail payment from Emil Lorrison, Paul Harvey, that Backett and his co-blackmailer "Big George" Garsell, James Craig, took from the other blackmailer working with them party girl "Lucky" Lucille Colner, Adele Jergens.
The move "Side Street" then takes on the form of a man on the run from both the hoods after him to not only get their money back but rub Joe out to keep him from talking to the police with the cop also looking for Joe as a suspect in the murder of barkeeper Gus who "Big George" tracked down and strangled in order to get the blackmail money back.
Tracking Hrriette down to the Les Artisets nightclub, where she's working as a singer, Joe does his best to get her to open up about the "Big" man telling Harriette that he's a old friend of "Big George" and would like to know where he lives.
There's a hair-raising ride through the Wall Street as well as the Washington Park section, that was later demolished to make way for the tragic World Trade Center complex, in downtown Manhattan with the cops hot on "Big George" and Larry's tail.Joe who's sense of honesty almost cost him his life, and his young wife Ellen the loss of a sweet and caring husband and breadwinner, in the end not only becomes a father and future role model to his new born son but also a hero in the eyes of the people of New York City as well..
Anthony Mann's Side Street, another Farley Granger noir, is about a young man who steals money with the best of intentions, only to see his one transgression turn into an avalanche of ever-constricting situations.Granger is Joe Norson, a part-time letter carrier in New York with a pregnant wife at home.
MGM trusted they could reproduce the sensation Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell had while starring in Nicholas Ray's They Live by Night, but they just couldn't generate the same romantic fire with this script to make it feel more palpable.
And while it's not the dramatically engaging story that Ray's film was, Anthony Mann's results in a photographically engaging film noir thriller shot in New York City.Mann was recognized for his scenes of violence, and using antagonistic surroundings to dramatic effect.
This is a significant illustration, in a film that depends on its green hero Farley Granger's effort to mature, and be a dependable family man himself.Nothing like the youthful, blue-collar star, the villain appears to be well-to-do, while obviously too much of a street thug to be authentically posh.
New York City postman Farley Granger (as Joe Norson) has his youth, good looks, and plenty of hope.
Alas, he money turns out to be bigger and dirtier than Granger dreamed, turning him into both a murder suspect and potential victim Watching director Anthony Mann and photographer Joseph Ruttenberg chase Granger around New York City, in beautiful black and white, is marvelous to behold.
With a little tinkering, "Side Street" might have been a masterpiece.******** Side Street (3/23/50) Anthony Mann ~ Farley Granger, Cathy O'Donnell, James Craig, Jean Hagen.
It stars Farley Granger, Cathy O'Donnell, James Craig, Jean Hagen, Paul Kelly, Paul Harvey, Edmon Ryan and Charles McGraw.
Music is by Lennie Hayton (original) and Cole Porter (non original), and cinematography is by Joseph Ruttenberg.Joe Norson (Granger) is desperate for a full time job so he can support his pregnant wife Ellen (O'Donnell).
Shooting in and around real New York locations, Mann and Ruttenberg give the film a real sense of authenticity, yes the plot takes some stretching of the imagination, but visually the picture is most appealing to the film noir fan.
Be it aerial shots of the maze like Lower Manhattan setting or the shadowy flecked interiors that cloak the characters, Side Street showcases some strengths of director and photographer alike.Certainly inferior to They Live By Night, and only mid tier of the noir pictures helmed by Mann, Side Street none the less still functions real well as a taut story that features a classic noir protagonist seemingly doomed by his actions.
There's no great fleshing out of the romance between husband and wife, because Joe is on the run around mostly, so O'Donnell is more of a secondary character, but we do feel the love and this helps considerably for the last quarter of the film.It does at times feel like a hammer is tapping us on the forehead with its "Crime Doesn't Pay" morality, however, the bursts of violence bite hard and with Mann adroit in his action construction (a high speed car pursuit in the finale is top draw), film manages to rise above its flaws to entertain fully.
Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell, upon the success of They Live by Night, were paired together again in this quick and taut film noir.
If for no other reason, than director Mann's way of telling a story and Jean Hagen's performance, which has to be one of her best in films.
I almost passed on it because Farley Granger was not one of my favorites - I always found him too wishy-washy and sappy, that whatever fate befell him in his films served him right.And so, I was not expecting the taut script and character development that ensued, although I should have; the Director was Anthony Mann and 4 time Academy Award winner Joseph Ruttenberg was his cameraman.
Anthony Mann directed this film noir that stars Farley Granger as a struggling letter carrier with a pregnant wife(played by Cathy O'Donnell) who is worried about how he will support them on his salary.
Of special mention are the helicopter shots of New York, which create the feeling that the city is a board game or crossword puzzle.Granger delivers an excellent performance -- perhaps the best of his movie career -- as a delivery boy who falls victim to temptation and foolishly steals $30K from a couple of nasty villains.
Apart from reuniting the hounded young couple from Nicholas Ray's THEY LIVE BY NIGHT (1948), Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell, the film also follows the 'story of a city' format laid down by Jules Dassin's THE NAKED CITY (1948).The narrative (written by genre expert Sydney Boehm) may be implausible at face value, but the snowballing of events  with the perplexed Granger at their centre  carries a genuine social resonance (though, thankfully, straying from sentimentality for the most part) and an undeniable charge of excitement (particularly towards the end, when the bodies start piling up and the police are closing in).
Paul Kelly is the compassionate police captain on the case who also narrates the tale; one of his assistants is noir regular Charles McGraw.The rogues' gallery includes the thuggish James Craig (it was surprising to find the hero of THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER [1941] on the opposite side of the tracks), a corrupt lawyer, another lackey who conveniently uses his cab for kidnapping/body-disposal purposes and, of course, a couple of dames (Jean Hagen is a particular stand-out here: she was also in THE ASPHALT JUNGLE, as a good girl this time).
And there is the fresh-faced couple all hope and love in a simple, complicated world—New York City just after World War II.And that couple is played by Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell with the same earnestness as more famously filmed by Nicholas Ray in "They Live by Night." That was one of Hollywood's great joint performances, and this followup is almost a requirement, and a lucky one.
The Studio also Sensed that in the Post War Years a Harsh Reality were the Style of the Day.This is an Incredibly Intense Noir with Highlighted City Scenes Distorted and Geometrically Garnered by the Genre's Stylistic Display.It is Brutal at times and the there is a Gripping Sense of Doom that in Every Scene, even the Romance is Overwhelmed by the Guilt Driven Farley Granger despite the Reassurance by His Pregnant Wife that all is Well with the Couple's Financial Troubles.There are plenty of Characters of Note including James Craig as a Sadistic Thug that Likes Curtain Cords when available but Uses a Gun, His Fists just for Variety.
Jean Hagen Also is Remarkable as a Nightclub Singer that Drinks Her Supper and is Hopelessly In Love with a Monster.Granger at times is a bit too Melodramatic and comes Close to Overacting and Gets on the Nerves, but that's Part of the Edgy "charm" in the Noir World of Claustrophobic Environs and Side Stepping to a "Side Street" of available Loot.
Granger and O'Donnell, who co-starred in "They Live by Night" a couple of years earlier, are reunited in this taut film noir about a decent fellow who gives in to temptation and has his life unravel.
Mann, known mainly for Westerns, does a terrific job of capturing life on the tough, gritty streets of New York City.
Farley Granger plays Joe Norson, married to the lovely Ellen (Cathy O'Donnell) who has a baby on the way.
While the conscience-stricken Joe tries to return the money, and the criminals represented by Backett threaten him, an NYC police detective (Paul Kelly) works the case."Side Street" has the beautiful, moody lighting required of this genre (cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg), while telling this entertaining story in fine fashion and refraining from being completely predictable.
Great character players such as Ryan and Kelly are supplemented by other solid actors: a stunning Jean Hagen, as a singer, Paul Harvey, Charles McGraw, Edwin Max, Harry Bellaver, and Whit Bissell (always nice to see him in anything) as a bank teller.Recommended viewing for any fan of film noir.Eight out of 10..
"Side Street" teams up Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell fresh off the successful pairing of them in Nicholas Ray's "They Live By Night," one of the best film noirs ever made.
Shortly after they made "They Live By Night", Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell started in this intricate and brilliantly plotted noir for Anthony Mann, (doing a superb job in an urban setting before the westerns and epics that made his name).
Temporary mail-delivery man Farley Granger (Joe) steals some money from a crooked lawyer's office.
The stolen loot has to do with a murder.O'Donnell(Ellen Norsen) is going to have Joe's child but since he is not working she is making plans to support herself after the baby is born and save money.
The New York City locations are great fun to watch, and the wonderful black and white cinematography has Anthony Mann's stamp all over it.
It has all the usual Mann ingredients at play, with a cracker-jack story, violence a plenty, and a superb look.Farley Granger is a just returned veteran working odd jobs to make ends meet.
The distaff side is well represented by some good work from Cathy O'Donnell, Adele Jergens and Jean Hagen.Veteran cinematographer, Joseph Ruttenburg really shines here and makes excellent use of the New York locations.
The only thing that keeps it from being among the better films of the genre is its main character--played by Farley Granger.
Its story about a young man who, in a moment of weakness, gives in to temptation and does something wrong which he can't subsequently put right is a typical film noir "downward spiral" plot which, as well as being gripping, exemplifies the futility of trying to struggle against the hand of fate.Joe Norson (Farley Granger) is a young man who's devoted to his pregnant wife Ellen (Cathy O'Donnell) and has ambitions to buy her a mink coat and take her to see some of Europe's great cities.
Now being pursued by both the criminals and the police, Joe tries to avoid coming to a sticky end by making his own investigations into how and from whom, Backett had originally acquired the stolen money.In "Side Street" the aerial shots of New York City emphasise how insignificant the struggling young couple are in their surroundings and also how trapped Joe is when he tries to escape the attentions of his pursuers.
the fact that Joe always seems to be physically hemmed-in, reflects perfectly the mental torment that he's experiencing and how impossible it seems for him to escape from his predicament.Reuniting Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell who'd worked together so successfully in "They Live By Night" (1948) must have seemed an irresistible prospect for both commercial and artistic reasons and they both turn in good performances in this movie which is tense, riveting and ends with an exciting car chase.