This is certainly a worth watching film for those interested in the representation of white ethnicity in the 1950s. As far as I can tell it must be one of the first films to depict immigration of white ethnics to the US long before Kazan produced America, America (1963). And what an unusual immigration that is! The film contains many themes that are typical of ethnic literature such as the meeting of the young lovers to be on top of the apartment building, the discussion of bridges and waters as connecting not separating people. An ethnographic look at an ethnic household prevails, but attitudes depicted do not comply with fossilized respect for the way things are done in the old country. Metzger and Kyriakis provide a very compelling view of New York, its monuments and architecture. In a neorealist fashion they employ unknown amateur actors and actresses. And according to their words they used authentic locations. As they said they were really moved by people's willingness to allow them to film in their establishments. The main protagonist Alex Carras was an accomplished dancer and he provides the audience with an extraordinary variation of a Greek folk dance. This dance focalizes the dilemmas the protagonist/immigrant faces and helps him resolve the issues he has on his mind. The ending does not conform to Hollywood formulas and that also makes the film exceptional.
