SIDE STREET: No, Joe, No!

SIDE STREET (Blu-ray)

1949 / 82 min

From Warner Archive Collection

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😺

After seeing such classics as Rope, Strangers on a Train and They Live by Night, I’ve come to the conclusion that few actors portrayed morally-questionable protagonists in way over their heads as effectively as Farley Granger. Even without dialogue, his face practically screams “Good God, what have I gotten myself into?” With skills like that, it’s sort of a shame he didn’t pop-up in more film noir.

You can add Anthony Mann’s excellent 1949 noir thriller, Side Street, to that short list. Granger’s character, Joe Norson, a bit more sympathetic in this one, being a financially-strapped mail carrier with a loving wife, Ellen (Cathy O’Donnell), and a baby on the way. On his daily route, Joe gives in to temptation by stealing what he thinks is $200 from shady lawyer Victor Brackett (Edmon Ryan). However, the file actually contains $30,000.

Concurrently, the narrative reveals that money is the result of an extortion scheme by Brackett and gangster client Georgie Garsell (James Craig). They blackmail wealthy rube Emil Lorrison (Paul Harvey) into paying for compromising photos of him and a mistress (who was in on the plan). When that woman turns up dead, Captain Walter Anderson (Paul Kelly) leads a massive police investigation.

Perhaps Joe shouldn't have changed the station.

Meanwhile, Joe trusts bartender friend Nick Drumman (Edwin Max) to hang on to the money while trying to figure out his next move. But consumed by guilt, he eventually decides to return the money to Brackett, which becomes easier said than done when Nick disappears with the money. Things rapidly spiral out of control. Not only is Joe being pursued by Garsell, he becomes the prime murder suspect when Nick turns up dead.

Side Street sort of begins like The Naked City, with Anderson’s voice-over narration describing daily New York life (accompanied by spectacular aerial shots) and lowly Joe’s quiet desperation. From there, the pace kicks into high gear with a plot that’s initially a little disorienting, but once all the characters are established, it’s a pretty exciting ride, culminating with a violent climax and spectacular car chase through the city streets. That chase is definitely the film’s action highlight, brilliantly shot and edited with terrific stunt driving and no special effects. The sequence was somewhat groundbreaking for its time, and contextually, I’m sort of surprised that it’s seldom included among cinema’s greatest car chases. 

Elsewhere, Granger makes an engaging protagonist, earning our empathy even when he repeatedly makes decisions that have the viewer crying, “No, Joe, no!” At least his heart is in the right place. The film also boasts a good supporting cast, which includes a brief but effective turn by Jean Hagen, the closest thing it has to a femme fatale. With strong characters, great use of New York locations and excellent action scenes, Side Street is a lesser-known film noir thriler worth rediscovering.

 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTE - Where Temptation Lurks is a nice little analysis of the film.el. 

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By critic Richard Schick

MGM SHORT - From 1947, The Luckiest Guy in the World is part of MGM’s “Crime Does Not Pay Series.” This one features a young Barry Nelson.

MGM CARTOON SHORTS - Goggle-Fishing Bear and Polka Dot Puss.

TRAILER