DEAD END

US, 1937, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Joel Mc Crea, Sylvia Sidney, Humphrey Bogart, Wendy Barrie, Claire Trevor, Marjorie Main.
Directed by William Wyler.

Dead End is Lillian Hellmann’s adaptation for the screen of Sidney Kingsley's famous play of the thirties. It highlights the world of New York, gangsters, the difficulties for the young in such a society. Lillian Helman (in the period portrayed in the film Julia) had started writing successful plays as well as screen plays for such films as These Three, which was directed by William Wyler director of this film. They were later to collaborate in The Little Foxes, 1941.

This is a film at the beginning of Wyler's successful career over many decades. Lillian Helman was to be black-listed but to achieve fame and recognition in the late seventies. Joel Mc Crea and Silvia Sidney were very popular at the time and Humphrey Bogart can be seen in a supporting role as an inevitable gangster. The film seems somewhat contrived these days, but gives an impression of the social issues and the cinematic treatment of them in the thirties.

1. The significance of the title, its visual portrayal, indication of themes and of life in the slums of the city? The references to a street, to death?

2. Sidney Kingsley's play and its transferral from stage to screen? Its being opened out, being made cinematic? Strength of dialogue? The contrivance from the stage scenes and sets? The adaptation by Lillian Helman and her social concern in the thirties?

3. How interesting and accurate a picture does the film give of a city in the thirties? The atmosphere of the Depression, poverty, crime, lack of social help, the role of the police, gangsters? The film in its role as a social critique? How effective?

4. The film as an example of Hollywood film-making of the thirties - black and white photography, sets, acting styles, polish?

5. The importance of the prologue and the tone that it set for the film? The portrayal of classes within American society and American cities? The audience entering into this particular part of the city, experiencing it and then moving out? What had happened to the audience by sharing in the experience of a dead end part of the city?

6. The importance of the visuals - the street, the block, the tenements, the rooms, the cafes, the river etc.? How well did the studio sets recreate authentic atmosphere of the cities?

7. The presentation of the quality of life, poverty, families, people having to fight for everything? The significance of the opening and its melodramatics, the focus on the kids in the street and on the block, crime, temptation, the possibilities of ruining their lives? Social pressures, peer groups?

8. The film's focus on the character of Drina? How attractive a character? Her place in the block? Her work? Her bond with Tommy? The background of work and the job, the picket? Her relationship with Dave? The experience of jealousy? Her relationship with the police? Her concern about Tommy and the crisis, trying to help him, her seeing people, her pleas? Her running, overhearing what was to happen? The resolution of the film and the social pleading coming through her voice? How convincing?

9. The presentation of Dave as sympathetic hero, strengths of character, work, reaction? Relationship with Martin? With the people in the block, with the men, the women? The fights? The gangsters? The police? Relationship with Tomay, trying to help him and cope?

10. The film's attention to detail with the characters of the boys, their activity, netting their activity within the social setting, stealing, accusations, the clash with the police? The violence and the danger?

11. The police on the block, the city police and their ethnic backgrounds, attitudes to people? Police work, the tracking of the gangsters? The rich and their accusations? The encounter with the boys? The prospects for Tommy and his future?

12. The contrast with rich society and the way this was presented, the robbery, the rich boy, his father, the police? The accusations? How much wore the rich satirised and parodied in their scenes? The contrast with the poor? Opportunities, truth, second chances?

13. The world of the gangsters, their presence, pressures, dangers for the people living there? An models for the boys? The eruptions of violence, deaths, the river?

14. How satisfying was the resolution? The social issues presented, the explorations of character, the happy ending for Drina, the prospects for Tommy? The impact of this drama in the thirties, now?