Nearly silent comedy filmed in black and white follows a street artist (Charles Lane), who rescues a baby after her father was murdered. The artist then sets off to find the mother, but has...
See full summary »
MCU fans, here are some streaming picks to watch while you wait for the next episode of "The Falcon and the Winter Solider."
Related News
-
A Look Inside Metrograph, New York City’s New Independent Theater
02 March 2016 | The Film Stage -
Criterion Collection: The Fisher King | Blu-ray Review
23 June 2015 | IONCINEMA.com -
Sidewalk Stories | Blu-ray Review
28 October 2014 | IONCINEMA.com
Take a look at your favorite stars from the 1990s and how they've changed in the last three decades.
Editorial Lists
Related lists from IMDb editors
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Sidewalk Stories (1989)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
1 win & 4 nominations.
See more awards »
Edit
Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
| Charles Lane | ... | Artist | |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
 |
Tom Alpern | ... | Bookseller |
|
|
Nicole Alysia | ... | Child |
|
|
Edwin Anthony | ... | Penny Pincher #1 |
| Michael Baskin | ... | Doorman / Street Cop | |
|
|
Jeff Bates | ... | Police Officer #2 |
|
|
Angel Cappellino | ... | Bully's Mother |
|
|
Jeffrey Carpentier | ... | Homeless Native American |
|
|
John Carr | ... | S.O.B. Man |
|
|
Vince Castelano | ... | Child Customer #3 |
|
|
Jimmy Clohessy | ... | Precinct Cop #2 |
| Robert Clohessy | ... | Alley Tough #1 | |
|
|
Tanya Cunningham | ... | Girlfriend |
|
|
Deena Engle | ... | Park Mother #1 |
| Ellia English | ... | Bag Lady | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Nearly silent comedy filmed in black and white follows a street artist (Charles Lane), who rescues a baby after her father was murdered. The artist then sets off to find the mother, but has to first learn how to care for the child. Ultimately he ends up in a horse drawn chase of the murderers. Written by John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
Genres:
ComedyParents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
Did You Know?
Trivia
Received a 12 minute long standing ovation at Cannes. See more »Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Back to the Future Part II/All Dogs Go to Heaven/Henry V/Prancer/Sidewalk Stories (1989) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
January 1990 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Sidewalk Stories See more »Filming Locations:
New York City, New York, USAEdit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$131,433Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Going silent (or almost entirely silent) was an outstanding choice by Charles Lane, and his film feels like an homage to Chaplin in its humor and humanism. In updating the tramp character to a homeless person of color, he seems to ask mainstream audiences to remember a time when so many more were destitute, and to suspend our tendency to judge in favor of empathizing. He also inverts the 'get rich quick by meeting a rich man' theme from Depression era films by having a female shop owner be the wealthy one and love interest. Most of all, he makes a film that's touching and funny.
Not hearing these characters (or even seeing intertitles) in no way took away from the ability to tell the story, and ironically it made me connect to them more deeply. I should say, not hearing them until the very end, when hearing a few plaintive requests for help hits like an emotional ton of bricks. Nicole Alysia is adorable as the little kid, Charles Lane is heartfelt as the struggling street artist, and Sandye Wilson is compelling as the business woman whose heart is as big as her right cross. How did Charles Lane not get more opportunities after creating this film, even if 'True Identity' was a bust? How did Sandye Wilson never appear in a feature film again?