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Back Street (1932)

Passed | | Drama, Romance | 30 December 1932 (USA)
Back Street Poster
A woman's love for and devotion to a married man results in her being relegated to the "back streets" of his life.

Director:

John M. Stahl

Writers:

Fannie Hurst (novel), Gladys Lehman (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Irene Dunne, John Boles, June Clyde | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Irene Dunne ... Ray Schmidt
John Boles ... Walter D. Saxel
June Clyde ... Freda Schmidt
George Meeker ... Kurt Shendler
Zasu Pitts ... Mrs. Dole
Shirley Grey ... Francine
Doris Lloyd ... Corinne Saxel - Walter's Wife
William Bakewell ... Richard Saxel - Walter's Son
Arletta Duncan ... Beth Saxel - Walter's Daughter
Maude Turner Gordon Maude Turner Gordon ... Mrs. Saxel - Walter's Mother
Walter Catlett ... Bakeless
James Donlan James Donlan ... Profhero
Paul Weigel Paul Weigel ... Adolph Schmidt - Ray's Father
Jane Darwell ... Mrs. Adolph Schmidt
Robert McWade ... Uncle Felix
See full cast »
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Storyline

A woman's love for and devotion to a married man results in her being relegated to the "back streets" of his life.

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Waiting--always waiting--in the shadows of the back streets...longing for the man she loves...asking nothing, receiving nothing--yet content to sacrifice all for him. WHY?

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

Passed | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 December 1932 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

A Esquina do Pecado See more »

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Quotes

Ray Schmidt: I know myself so well - it's all the way or zero with me.
See more »

Connections

Version of Back Street (1961) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Hurst hurts
31 May 2016 | by marcslope – See all my reviews

Straightforward adaptation of the Fannie Hurst novel that dates rather badly. Irene Dunne, understated and excellent, is the unfortunate good-time (but not that good-time; as she quite explicitly states to George Meeker, she doesn't put out) gal of Cincinnati circa 1900, she has the misfortune to meet an up-and-coming, and already engaged, John Boles, and ends up being his back-street mistress. It's refreshingly pre-Code frank about such things, and some good character actors--Walter Catlett, Jane Darwell--turn up in small roles. I also liked Meeker as the nice guy who loves Dunne, but just isn't interesting enough to make her want him back. The trouble is, and it mustn't have been as evident in 1932, is that Boles's character is such a jerk. Time and again he'll say something insensitive, or do something insensitive, to her, then beg for an apology, and get it. He's not worth wasting a life over, and her motives are somewhat unclear. Still, it's a solid '30s soap. I like the 1941 Margaret Sullavan version better, but this one's miles ahead of the Susan Hayward, and less susceptible to unintentional laughter.
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