Listen, any girl that waits two hours in the rain for a guy is gonna give him a dirty look – Scarlet Street (1945)
Today on Classic Movie Review, we are taking on Scarlet Street (1945).
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iMDB.com rates this movie at 7.8[1]. Rottentomatoes.com rates this film at 100 percent on the Tomatometer and 87 percent on audience approval[2].
New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther didn’t think much of this film and said in a February 15, 1946 review:
“Now that the New York State censors have finished playing around with the film “Scarlet Street” Street” (first they banned it and then they passed it, on appeal, with minor cuts), the public may go to see … and decide for itself just how damaging to its morals this picture maybe. This being the case we’re not anxious to prejudice any sinners in advance, but we must sound this critical warning: it isn’t likely to encourage a life of crime.
For “Scarlet Street,” despite that title and all the lurid implications of the censors’ ban, is a painfully moral picture, and in the light of modern candor, rather tame…
…In this presentation, however, it seems a sluggish and manufactured tale, emerging much more from sheer contrivance than from the passions of the characters involved. And the slight twist of tension which tightens around the principal character is lost in the middle of the picture when he is shelved for a. dull stretch of plot.
…And if it hadn’t been tagged by the censors it would have passed as an average thriller job.[3]
Actors – Scarlet Street (1945)
Returning
One of my favorites, and I’m sure many of yours as well, Edward G. Robinson played the kindly painter Christopher Cross. This great actor was first covered in the Noir Western The Violent Men (1955).
The bad boy of Film Noir, Dan Duryea, played the ironically named abusive boyfriend, Johnny Prince. Duryea was first covered in the wartime propaganda film Sahara (1943).
Rosalind Ivan, the abusive and dictatorial wife of Chris, Adele Cross. She was pretty good in this role. Ivan was first covered in The Verdict (1946).
Vladimir Sokoloff had a small part as artist Pop LeJon. Sokoloff was first covered in the great western The Magnificent Seven (1960).
New
Joan Bennett was cast into the definitely Femme Fatale role of Katharine ‘Kitty’ March. Bennett was born in New Jersey in 1910. Her parents were successful stage actors. Bennett never wanted a career as an actor, but she first worked on stage. She started appearing in films that her father was cast in films such as The Valley of Decision (1916). A few years later, she was in The Eternal City (1923).
Bennett married at 16, had a baby, and divorced in 1928. To support her daughter, Bennett began working in films again. Some of her movies include Power (1928), Bulldog Drummond (1929), Disraeli (1929), The Mississippi Gambler (1929), Three Live Ghosts (1929), She Wanted a Millionaire (1932), Me and My Gal (1932), Little Women (1933), and Trade Winds (1938), where she changed from a bleached blonde to a brunette.
The 1940s were Bennett’s time to shine in Film Noir. These Film Noirs include The Woman in the Window (1944), Scarlet Street (1945), The Woman on the Beach (1947), Secret Beyond the Door… (1947), Hollow Triumph (1948), The Reckless Moment (1949), and Highway Dragnet (1954).
Bennett was in two other important movies before she moved away from film for a decade. These films are Father of the Bride (1950) and Father’s Little Dividend (1951). She took a role in the horror soap opera “Dark Shadows” from 1966 – 1971. Bennett was also in one of the series movies, House of Dark Shadows (1970). Her last movie was Suspiria (1977), and her last television appearance was “Divorce Wars: A Love Story” in 1982. Bennett died in 1990 at the age of 80.
Story – Scarlet Street (1945)
The movie begins at night on a busy city street in 1934. Outside a fancy club, there is an organ grinder and his monkey. I believe this is metaphorical for Chris Cross (Edward G. Robinson). Inside the fancy club, they are having a black-tie celebration, Chris.
The boss, J.J. Hogarth (Russell Hicks), stands to leave, but before he does, he awards Chris a fancy jeweled pocket watch. Chris is getting the watch for 25 years of service as a cashier at a brokerage firm. J.J. gives Chris a cigar and lights his third. Chris crosses his fingers against the hex. The men all see the beautiful young woman in the car waiting for J.J. Chris, a shy man who leaves the party on his way back to Brooklyn. It is raining, and he uses his umbrella to keep his friend Charles Pringle (Samuel S. Hinds) dry.
Chris tells Charles he is lonely and has never had anyone look at him like the woman at J.J. Chris also says that he wanted to be an artist and still paints every Sunday. Chris invites Charles to come to see his paintings.
The lonely Chris makes his way toward the subway. Under the elevated trains, Chris sees a man viciously beating a woman. Chris charges in to save her, using his umbrella on the attacker. The attacker has fallen to the ground.
The lady on the ground rubs her jaw. She is Katherine “Kitty” March (Joan Bennett). Chris gets a beat cop, but the attacker has fled the scene. Kitty asks Chris to take her home. She lives above a small bar/nightclub, and Chris asks her into the bar for a cup of coffee.
When they go inside, the bartender knows Kitty very. Kitty asks the bartender if he has seen Johnny. Kitty orders a drink and insists Chris drink the same. Chris comments on how beautiful Kitty is. Kitty charms Chris and says she thinks he is an artist. Chris talks about his desire to own expensive paintings. Kitty thinks he is a very successful artist. When he pulls out his new watch, she really thinks Chris is loaded.
Chris asks for her number, but Kitty says she doesn’t have one. He asks if he can write, and she points at the building, saying there’s the address. When he asks who Johnny is, Kitty turns and flares at Chris. She says Johnny is her roommate Mille’s boyfriend.
Chris heads home feeling on to of the world. When he gets home, he goes to the bathroom to paint the flower that Kitty handed him in the bar. He has true joy. When the doorbell rings, Chris’ wife, Adele (Rosalind Ivan), begins screeching for him to answer the door. Charles has followed up on his earlier invitation to visit. Chris has to hide the invitation from Adele. Chris has to clean the breakfast dishes for his wife.
On the wall is a huge picture of a man wearing a medal. When Charles asks about it, he is told it is Adele’s late husband. Homer Higgins (Charles Kemper) was a cop who died trying to save a woman drowning in the East River. Chris has been married for Five years. He says she used to be sweet as he put on a flowery apron to wash the dishes.
The men go to look at Chris’ flower painting that he worked on all night. Chris’ paintings are very abstract and interpretive. Adele comes into the bathroom in a slip. She screams about privacy. The two men take the painting gear and retreat. Adele dumps the treasured flower into the trash.
At Kitty’s apartment, her boyfriend Johnny (Dan Duryea), the same man who beat her earlier, finds a letter from Chris. They get along fine. Johnny pulls out the letter and confronts her for writing a younger man. She explains that the letter is from Chris, the supposed wealthy artist that knocked Johnny out. Johnny is obsessed with money. He says that since Chris is taken with Kitty, they should fleece him. Kitty is not interested at first, but Johnny has big dreams. Johnny pretends to leave, and Kitty is hooked.
Millie Ray (Margaret Lindsay), Kitty’s roommate, arrives, and she really doesn’t like Johnny. Johnny leaves the two ladies alone. Millie is a model, and she complains that Kitty hasn’t worked since she met the abusive Johnny. Millie says Johnny is turning Kitty into a tramp. There is the illusion that she does a little prostitution.
Kitty meets with Chris for lunches in the city. Kitty asks if he will paint her picture. Chris continues to talk about painting and love. Kitty says she is broke and can’t pay her rent. She drops the idea that if he pays for a studio apartment, he could paint there, and she could live there as well. Chris confesses that he is a married man. Chris is shocked by the $500 asks.
Chris takes the money out of the cash box at the brokerage house. Then he quickly puts it back. Chris then goes to a loan agency, but they want a co-signer.
At their apartment, Adele complains that Chris doesn’t make enough money. She says she can’t even have a radio and has to go to the neighbors to listen to her shows. She talks to the picture of Homer. They both complain that they are stuck. When he talks back, she thinks he is drunk. Adele still has the insurance money from Homer’s death. She threatens to throw Chris’ painting outside. Adele calls him a pervert for what he paints. She leaves him orders to do the dishes as she goes downstairs to listen to the radio.
Chris goes to the bedroom and finds the key to her dresser drawer. He opens the box of bonds. Adele comes in and almost catches him. The radio show has gone off the air, and Adele is back to stay. Chris reads, with joy, about a man murdering his wife. Adele sends him to wash the dishes, of course, wearing the flowery apron. He tells her he will move his paintings to a friend’s apartment.
Kitty and Johnny go to rent the apartment for $150 a month. It is not long before the cad Johnny makes himself at home. One day, he is woken by a bell. Women’s clothes and cigarettes are strewn about. He helps himself to the contents of Kitty’s purse. She comes from the other room and is apparently hungover. Johnny has spent most of her money. He keeps digging and finds her hidden stash in a compact case. Johnny wants her to get more money from Chris. He proposes blackmailing Chris about being married.
Someone knocks on the door. Kitty cleans up a little before opening the door. It is Millie. Millie calls Johnny out of his hiding place. Millie and Johnny spit hate back and forth.
There is another knock on the door. This time it is Chris with some of his painting stuff. Johnny is introduced as Millie’s boyfriend and plays that role for Chris’ benefit. Chris seems to recognize Johnny, but he can’t place him. Chris doesn’t like Johnny.
Kitty flirts with Chris as he talks about not having a wife. Kitty complains that she needs more money being a poor actress. Kitty says she will borrow the money from Johnny, and Chris says he will get the money for her. He tries to kiss her. Chris has to hurry back to work. When Chris leaves, Johnny is hiding behind the stoop.
Kitty and Johnny don’t understand Chris’ artwork. Kitty complains that she doesn’t like to be touched by other men and that Chris is too nice to her. Johnny wants to sell some of the paintings.
Chris works late, so he can take money out of the cash box. He is almost busted by J.J. However, the box is just cashing a check.
Johnny goes to a pawn shop to try and sell the two paintings. The pawnbroker says the paintings belong in Washington Square with the long-haired artist.
Johnny finds an artist wearing a beret, Pop LeJon (Vladimir Sokoloff). LeJon says they have an odd perspective, but there is something there. He says he will sell them for $25 each. Johnny refuses to leave his contact information.
Johnny meets Kitty in the bar. She had previously given him $900. He got a watch but didn’t retrieve her hocked diamond ring. Johnny almost hits Kitty because he thinks Chris is lying about the paintings.
Johnny returns to LeJon and finds the paintings have been sold to modern art expert David Janeway (Jess Balker). LeJon goes to the phone to call Janeway. Johnny runs away.
Back at the apartment, Johnny and Kitty fight over what to do now that they know paintings are valuable. Someone knocks on the door. It is LeJon, Janeway, and another art dealer named Dellarowe. Johnny is hiding, but LeJon sees other paintings and runs inside.
LeJon sees Johnny and tries to pay him off for the painting. Janeway and Dellarowe say the paintings are good and want to know who the artist is. Johnny says Kitty is the real artist. They say the work is strong and thought the artist was a man. Johnny tells Kitty to act the part of an artist.
Dellarowe wants all of the paintings. Janeway talks to Kitty, and she acts the part using the words Chris. Janeway acts a little sweet on Kitty, and Johnny only thinks about the money. The artists leave.
Johnny tells Kitty to do what is needed to get Janeway. When she objects, he gives her a slap. Johnny is having Kitty sign the paintings when Chris shows up unexpectantly. Chris is shocked to find Johnny in the apartment. Johnny leaves, but Chris is showing the green-eyed monster. Chris asks Kitty if Johnny is the one man that she says she has slept with. Kitty storms out.
Chris can’t paint, and he tries to make peace with Kitty. She is getting dressed to go out. Kitty comes out in a robe and apologizes. He proposes to her, and she replies that he is married. He then asks if he can paint her. She hands him a nail polish bottle and extends her feet, saying, “Paint me, Chris.”
Chris’ paintings are hung in the window of the Dellarowe art gallery. Adele walks by and sees the paintings. She enquires about the artist and is told it is Katherine March.
Chris is wearing the apron and cooking when Adele gets home. The first question she asks is how long he had known Katherine March. He thinks he has been caught, but Adele only thinks he has been copying his style from Kitty. Adele says she is getting $$500 a picture. She calls him a thief.
Kitty is complaining about having to date Chris. Johnny only sees the money and doesn’t care what she has to do. Suddenly, Chris burst into the apartment. Johnny hides in the closet. Kitty cries and says she had to sell them because she needed more money. Chris is happy that his paintings sell, even under Kitty’s name. Chris says he wants to paint Kitty’s picture. Johnny sneaks out. He says it will be called a self-portrait.
Dellarowe has an exhibit with all of Kitty’s paintings. She is becoming the toast of the art world. Even the self-portrait is excellent. Greenway says in his column that she seems like two people. A detective comes to see Chris outside of his work.
When he goes outside, a man with an eye patch and a shabby suit is waiting. He identifies himself as Homer, Adele’s late husband. Homer says he had been taking bribes from local speakeasies. He was being investigated. When a woman jumped in the river, he went after her. He grabbed what turned out to be the woman’s purse which contained $2,700. Homer grabbed a coal barge and then a banana boat for Honduras. Homer wants money and thinks Chris wants to stay married to Adele. Chris says he will get the man some money if he waits until after work.
Johnny and Kitty show up in a new convertible. Johnny gets a bucket of ice and an icepick.
After work, Chris brings $200 Homer. Chris tells about the insurance money. He wants Homer to come and take the money when Adele is away from the house. At 11:00 pm, Homer arrives outside of Chris and Adele’s apartment. Chris lets him inside to steal the bonds. All the lights are off as he leads Homer to the bedroom. Chris runs away as he hears Adele screaming about the night assault.
Chris goes to the apartment and finds Kitty and Johnny kissing and having a good time. Chris drops his suitcase and runs away. Johnny is really rude to Kitty and says he is through with her. He gives her another slap before he leaves.
Chris is in the bar, drinking. He hears Kitty saying I love you over and over again to Johnny. An anti-drinking rally talking about sin sets Chris thinking.
Kitty calls around, trying to find Johnny. Millie says Johnny says he was coming back to beat Kitty. She hears someone come inside, and she calls for Johnny. Chris walks in and confronts her. She says she loves Johnny. Chris says he is free and asks Kitty to marry him. He thinks she is crying, but she is laughing. She calls him an idiot and is old and ugly.
Chris picks up the icepick and stabs Kitty to death. The drunken Johnny slams into a hydrant as he arrives. Chris leaves and takes his suitcase. Chris hides by the stairway as Johnny breaks into the building.
The newspaper highlights the icepick murder of the famous artist. Chris is a shell of himself. Two police officers arrive, and Chris is taken to J.J.s office. Chris thinks he is being arrested for murder, but it turns out it is for the $1,200 he stole to give Kitty. J.J. decides to not press charges against Chris. J.J. knows it was a woman that he stole for. Chris is fired from his job of over 25 years.
Johnny is picked up by the cops and accused of murdering Kitty. Johnny has been caught with her car, her money, and her jewels. His fingerprints are on the icepick as well. Testimony is heard, and it is all against Johnny, especially Millie hearing Kitty say, “hello Johnny,” during the phone call. Adele and Chris both testify that Chris copied Kitty’s paintings.
The newspapers show that Johnny is to be executed at Sing Sing prison.
Chris is riding a train, and men from the press recognize him. They begin discussing the case, and one of the reporters says no one gets away with murder. If you murder someone, you carry the crime in your heart for the rest of your life.
Johnny is in the death cell with a priest when the cops take him for execution. Johnny denies the killing to the end.
Chris is living in a small, dank flat. The lights flicker at the time of the execution. Chris begins to hear Kitty and Johnny’s voices as they talk lovey to each other. It is like he has seen a ghost. He hears Kitty mocking him for wanting to marry her.
Guilty over having murdered two people, Chris hangs himself from a lamp. Two neighbors break in and save Chris. Chris still hears Kitty professing love to Johnny.
Sleeping on a park bench in the winter, Chris is rousted by a couple of cops. After Chris leaves, one cop says Chris has been confessing to the murder of Kitty and Johnny for five years. Chris walks down the street, and he sees his self-portrait of Kitty being sold for $10,000. Chris continues down the street with no wife, no job, no home, and no painting career. He still hears Kitty’s voice talking to Johnny.
Conclusion – Scarlet Street (1945)
This movie is based on a French novel, La Chienne, translated as The Bitch or The Dog by Georges de La Fouchardière. The novel was the basis for the film La Chienne (1931), directed by Jean Renoir[4].
Director Fritz Lang had previously worked with the three main stars, Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, and Dan Duryea, in the very similar The Woman in the Window (1944).
Robinson played a lover of art in this film. In fact, he owned an extensive art collection and was considered an expert in this medium.
Twelve pictures were painted by John Decker for the film. They were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in 1946.
Ben Mankiewicz of TCM is quoted as saying local censors in some major American cities said the film was “licentious, profane, obscure, and contrary to the good order of the community.”[5] The attempted suicide by Chris was not shown to avoid problems with The Production Code or Hayes Code as it was known. Bosley Crowther mentioned some of this in his newspaper review.
The censor eventually rationalized that although Chris murdered Kitty and let the innocent, at least for murder, Johnny be executed, Chris’ fall into loneliness, poverty, and insanity was punishment enough.
Finally, a little Film Noir booze information. When Kitty moves to the studio apartment, her old roommate Millie brings over a three-sided bottle of Scotch. This is probably a bottle of Dimple or Pinch. These bottles have appeared in other drinking-oriented films, such as The Thin Man (1934), where it’s Nick’s favorite brand. It was also referred to as dimple Scotch in The Lost Weekend (1945).
World-Famous Short Summary – A pretty face don’t mean no pretty heart.
Beware the moors.
[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038057/
[2] Scarlet Street – Rotten Tomatoes
[3] https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/02/15/93052655.html
[4] Scarlet Street – Wikipedia
[5] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038057/trivia/
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