Where the Sidewalk Ends
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- For the Shel Silverstein book, see Where the Sidewalk Ends (book).
Where the Sidewalk Ends | |
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Directed by | Otto Preminger |
Produced by | Otto Preminger |
Written by | Ben Hecht (screenplay) Robert E. Kent, Frank P. Rosenberg, Victor Trivas (adaptation) William L. Stuart (novel Night Cry) |
Starring | Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney, Gary Merrill |
Music by | Cyril J. Mockridge |
Cinematography | Joseph LaShelle |
Editing by | Louis R. Loeffler |
Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. |
Release date(s) | June 26, 1950 (U.S. release) |
Running time | 95 min. |
Language | English |
IMDb profile |
Where the Sidewalk Ends is a 1950 film directed by Otto Preminger starring Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney, and Karl Malden.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The plot concerns a New York City police officer who already is in trouble with his superiors for his heavy-handed tactics when he accidentally kills a murder suspect. The cop quickly covers up his involvement in the crime and tries to frame a local gangster for the killing. Things don't go his way as a taxi driver, who happens to be the victims father in law, becomes the number one suspect. Things get even more tangled when the cop begins to fall for the victim's wife.
[edit] Critical reaction
Most critics compare the film unfavorably to Preminger's earlier film Laura which used much of the talent from this film including the acting leads Andrews and Tierney. This film, which is a grittier noir, does succeed, according to film writers, in showing a darker side of police like many films noir that follow it.
The film is considered a classic of the film noir genre.
[edit] Cast
- Dana Andrews as Det. Sgt. Mark Dixon (16th Precinct)
- Gene Tierney as Morgan Taylor(Paine)
- Gary Merrill as Tommy Scalise
- Bert Freed as Det. Sgt. Paul Klein (Dixon's partner)
- Tom Tully as Jiggs Taylor, Morgan's Father
- Karl Malden as Det. Lt. Thomas (16th Precinct Detectives commander)
- Ruth Donnelly as Martha, Owner of Martha's Cafe
- Craig Stevens as Ken Paine