SCARLET STREET
US, 1945, 103 minutes, Black and white.
Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Dan Dureya, Margaret Lindsay.
Directed by Fritz Lang.
Scarlet Street is a film noir, made by the same group responsible for 'The Woman in the Window', the year before. Edward C Robinson and Joan Bennett star as an ill-fated couple. Dan Duryea is the usual sinister villain. The film was produced by Joan Bennett's husband Walter Wanger and directed by Fritz Lang.
It is a film about evil, a variation on the The Blue Angel theme. A meek clerk pretends that he is a wealthy artist to a prostitute who pretends that she is an actress. They get entangled, the clerk discovers the truth after stealing for her, murders her. The sinister pimp goes to the electric chair for the murder. While the clerk goes unpunished, he is shown at the end being tormented.
The film is a melodramatic portrait of weakness and evil.
1. Film noir, crime thriller, portrait of evil?
2. Black and white photography, light and shadows? New York, the world of Chris, the world of Kitty? The score, the stars, the film in Fritz Lang's canon?
3. The title, the effects of evil?
4. Chris, the anniversary, the speech, the gift of the watch, the ordinary clerk? Adele and her tyranny at home, the apron, the dishes? His enjoying his painting, her criticisms nagging? The party, the drinking, his rescuing Kitty in the street? Escorting her, the gentleman, the cup of coffee? Her lies and his letting her believe what she wanted about him? His charm, her demands for money, his stealing, the setting up of the studio? The irony of Adele's husband turning up and the blackmail? His antagonism towards Johnny? Friendship with, Milly believing Johnny to be her boyfriend? The paintings, painting the carnation, the irony of their going to the gallery, allowing Kitty to have the credit? The discovery of the truth, his employer not sending him to Jail? His seeing Johnny with Kitty, killing her? The trail, his testimony, the train ride to Sing Sing? His ending with wandering the streets, being haunted with what he had done?
5. Kitty on the street, Johnny as her pimp, leading Chris on, the lies about acting, his infatuation, sharing the apartment with Milly? Money for Johnny needs? Squeezing Chris, seductive charm? The outings, the gallery, his explanations? The pricing of the paintings, her taking the responsibility, her portrait being painted? The question of marriage and her refusal, spurning Chris, the love for Johnny, her death?
6. Johnny as a pimp, pressures on Kitty, love for her, antagonism towards Chris, taking the paintings to be priced, the success, the gallery, the commentator? The irony of the trial and his death?
7. The business world, Chris and his meekness, the gold watch, the stealing, the employer letting him go?
8. Adele and her tyranny, the irony of decorated husband, the irony of his disappearance, the blackmail?
9. Milly, her friendship, lending Kitty the dress?
10. Themes of seduction, infatuation, the little man, evil, the consequences?
