Back Street (1941)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Fannie Hurst (novel)
Bruce Manning (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

7 February 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Pretty Rae Smith and handsome Walter Saxel meet, fall in love and make plans to marry. Unfortunately...

Plot Keywords:

Mistress | Marriage | Apartment | Engagement | Unrequited Love

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Charles Boyer	...	Walter Louis Saxel
Margaret Sullavan	...	Ray Smith
Richard Carlson	...	Curt Stanton
Frank McHugh	...	Ed Porter
Tim Holt	...	Richard Saxel
Frank Jenks	...	Harry Niles
Esther Dale	...	Mrs. Smith
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Felix Darren
Peggy Stewart	...	Freda Smith
Nell O'Day	...	Elizabeth Saxel
Kitty O'Neil	...	Mrs. Dilling
Nella Walker	...	Corinne Saxel
Cecil Cunningham	...	Mrs. Miller
Marjorie Gateson	...	Mrs. Adams
Dale Winter	...	Miss Evans

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #7020)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Two of Barney Oldfield's racing cars was in the Vanderbilt Cup sequence: a 1909 six-cylinder Stearns, and a 1912 four-cylinder, sixteen-valve Prince Henry Benz.

Movie Connections:

Version of Back Street (1932)

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

"Back Street"

Margaret Sullavan is one of my all-time favorite actresses with her husky voice and haunting screen presence. The original version in 1932 with Irene Dunne and John Boles was dull and stage-bound; the later version with Susan Hayward was just too gaudy. This is the version to watch!

Margaret gives an exquisitely heart-rending performance as a turn-of-the-century miss who falls in love with a man (played by the smooth but oh-so-serious Charles Boyer). Fate intervenes and the two lovers are separated. They meet again years later, but, true to the classic weeper formula, he is married. Despite her better judgment, she carries on a "Back Street" romance with him for many years until their untimely demises.

Promoted with the tag line, "If you have tears, be prepared to shed them", this movie does involve some suspension of disbelief. For example, for such a level-headed gal, why does Margaret allow Boyer to treat her so shabbily? Just when I am about to shake my head and yell "Why?", Margaret then either let loose with the tears or try to hide the choking sob in her voice, and I'm transfixed all over again.

This film does feature solid direction, beautiful photography and some good supporting performances (I particularly liked Frank McHugh in this one). This film remains on my "Wish-They-Release-This-One-on-Video" list.