Another one for the pile: a pretty actress recoils in disgust from Edward G Robinson
Scarlet Street is one of two Robinson movies that terrified me as a kid: the first was watching him loudly bully Bogie and Bacall in his role as Johnny Rocco in claustrophobic Key Largo. The second was the ending of this one -- listening to the creepy whispers reverberating through the demented mind of a murderer. Robinson plays a naive and lonely milquetoast who gets bilked by a couple of con artists, played by Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. Although lanky and cocky, Duryea exudes a bit of a William H Macy vibe (it must be in the face!). Bennett is enamored of Duryea, whose only interest in her is to pimp her out for a few extra bucks.
This is a true noir universe: unmercifully bleak, it's peopled with mean and cruel inhabitants. But it's a sick cruelty that gives a sexual thrill to all parties. Robinson's character submits to the most degrading behaviour, whether donning a frilly apron to do the dishes or famously kneeling to paint Bennet's toes. "They'll be masterpieces," she hisses.
The paintings featured in the film, done by Hollywood set designer John Decker, are intriguing. Sadly, the DVD I watched had a very muddy picture quality, put out by Acme DVDs.
This is a true noir universe: unmercifully bleak, it's peopled with mean and cruel inhabitants. But it's a sick cruelty that gives a sexual thrill to all parties. Robinson's character submits to the most degrading behaviour, whether donning a frilly apron to do the dishes or famously kneeling to paint Bennet's toes. "They'll be masterpieces," she hisses.
The paintings featured in the film, done by Hollywood set designer John Decker, are intriguing. Sadly, the DVD I watched had a very muddy picture quality, put out by Acme DVDs.
Dan Duryea's arrogant Johnny-- an over-confident petty crook with a million get rich quick schemes
Director Fritz Lang demonstrates an assault sequence for Dan Dureya on the set of Scarlet Street.
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