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Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
7 July 1950 (USA)
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Plot:
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon wants to be something his old man wasn't: a guy on the right side of the law. But Dixon's vicious nature will get the better of him. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
Even better than "Laura"
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Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Dana Andrews | ... | Det. Mark Dixon | |
| Gene Tierney | ... | Morgan Taylor | |
| Gary Merrill | ... | Tommy Scalise | |
| Bert Freed | ... | Det. Paul Klein | |
| Tom Tully | ... | Jiggs Taylor | |
| Karl Malden | ... | Lt. Thomas | |
| Ruth Donnelly | ... | Martha | |
| Craig Stevens | ... | Ken Paine |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
95 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Germany:12 |
UK:12 |
USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #14458) |
USA:Passed (National Board of Review) |
Australia:PG |
Finland:K-16 |
Sweden:15 |
West Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Not only was the traditional Twentieth Century Fox fanfare music not utilized at the film's opening, Alfred Newman's ubiquitous "Street Scene Theme" is whistled over the unique opening credits, appropriately written in chalk on a sidewalk.
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Goofs:
Continuity: When Andrews is staging the murder scene after Stevens' death, he is gloveless. A few seconds later he suddenly has gloves on both hands.
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Quotes:
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe:
You know, I like places like this that specialize in good food instead of headwaiters.
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: It's the worst food in town, but don't worry. They usually serve a stomach pump with the dessert.
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe: Who invited you to come to my restaurant, Mr. Detective? Not me!
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: Martha's the head of a ring of burglars. My presence makes her nervous.
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe: Yeah, last night we got a whole basketful of diamonds. You wanna see?
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: Bring us two of your dangerous dinners, Martha.
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe: You know how much I've been offered to poison this man?
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: Ten dollars.
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe: That's right. I'm holding out for fifteen. Two dinners. Do you want wine?
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: Bring a small bottle.
[...]
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Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: It's the worst food in town, but don't worry. They usually serve a stomach pump with the dessert.
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe: Who invited you to come to my restaurant, Mr. Detective? Not me!
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: Martha's the head of a ring of burglars. My presence makes her nervous.
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe: Yeah, last night we got a whole basketful of diamonds. You wanna see?
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: Bring us two of your dangerous dinners, Martha.
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe: You know how much I've been offered to poison this man?
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: Ten dollars.
Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe: That's right. I'm holding out for fifteen. Two dinners. Do you want wine?
Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon: Bring a small bottle.
[...]
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991)
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FAQ
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Despite the lack of a haunting theme song and the austere and humourous presence of Clifton Webb, this film is a much more exciting experience than "Laura", the other collaboration between Preminger, Andrews and Tierney. This is one of the grimmest film noir films I've ever seen, and not just in its lurid shadows and rain-drenched streets. The film is dark to its very soul. Dana Andrews plays what is now a standard stereotype: the cop who is bitter and deadly with his temper. But Andrews plays it with more honesty and humanity than most any other angry movie cop you're likely to see. Despite the fact that his character is good at heart, he is also a criminal and a killer, and the film beautifully strings him along, forcing him to serve his spiritual penance. What of course is most fun is the way that his terror over being discovered slowly comes to a boil. I've seen tons of film noir movies but I can't recall ever seeing the protagonist ever becoming the anti-hero in such a startling way. Many of the best film noir pics have that dizzying spiral theme of a man trapped by his own weakness. "Night in the City", "Detour", "Scarlet Street", "In a Lonely Place", "Act of Violence" and "Johnny Eager", are among the best of them. "Were the Sidewalk Ends" holds its own among them. Not a bad recommendation!