Scarlet Street Reviews

Fritz Lang is, of course, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. ?Metropolis? alone is enough to place him in a poetic pantheon of creators ? his other expressionist works of Weimar-era cinema, including ?M? and the Nazi-baiting ?Dr. Mabuse? films are milestones of the form. After fleeing the Nazi?s, Lang?s career in Hollywood had brilliant flashes but was marred by ?B movie? budgets and constant clashes with stars, studio heads and financiers. However, even though the studio cut it considerably to simplify the story and downplay the psychological complexity of the work, Scarlet Street is a masterpiece of Noir ? and explores themes of pimping and prostitution considered taboo at the time. A remake of a Jean Renoir?s La Chienne, Scarlet Street takes a Noir formula to new heights of dark fatalism and bitterness. Edward G. Robinson, usually the ?heavy?, plays against type as a henpecked bank clerk who moonlights as a painter. The film itself takes the form of Greek or even Jacobean tragedy and unfolds on many levels as a lonely man seeking love is exploited and pushed further and further over the brink. The use of ambient sound is innovative, the lighting and cinematography are nearly flawless. The DVD, however, is a disgrace. The transfer looks as if it is an old TV version that someone has blurred badly to remove traces of dust and scratches. Its sad that once again a bunch of chancers have bought the rights to a masterpiece by one of the most important directors of the 20th century, blurred it a bit and have banged it on to a budget DVD. Scarlet Street should be properly restored and presented by professionals, like M and Metropolis and not presented in this disrespectful, bargain basement manner. Still unmissable in any form, though.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Lang in film noir territory

Like 'You only live once' this is one of Fritz Lang's 'trap' movies where the main protaganist becomes progressively emeshed in a set of circumstances that lead inexorably to a tragic conclusion. Edward G Robinson is highly believable as the little cashier deluded by Joan Bennett's classy broad and her abusive lover, Dan Duryea who both provide excellent support. Lang's direction is superb and even when Dudley Nichol's script takes one turn too many he keeps the whole movie afloat. The quality of the transfer to DVD is indeed poor, which is surprising since Eureka did an excellent job with 'M' and the Mabuse films. Makes one wonder if this is a pirate version?

Scarlet Street

I was very pleasantly surprised by the commentary on this DVD. Instead of the usual moronic drivel, we have an intelligent exposition of 'film noir', an explanation of the way that camera angles, lighting etc are used to create mood, a discussion of the symbols and metaphors in the script, as well as biographies of the director and leading players. I would recommend this DVD both for the film itself and for the excellent commentary.

Scarlet Street

I was very pleasantly surprised by the commentary on this DVD. Instead of the usual moronic drivel, we have an intelligent exposition of 'film noir', an explanation of the way that camera angles, lighting etc are used to create mood, a discussion of the symbols and metaphors in the script, as well as biographies of the director and leading players. I would recommend this DVD both for the film itself and for the excellent commentary.

Fritz Lang is, of course, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. ?Metropolis? alone is enough to place him in a poetic pantheon of creators ? his other expressionist works of Weimar-era cinema, including ?M? and the Nazi-baiting ?Dr. Mabuse? films are milestones of the form. After fleeing the Nazi?s, Lang?s career in Hollywood had brilliant flashes but was marred by ?B movie? budgets and constant clashes with stars, studio heads and financiers. However, even though the studio cut it considerably to simplify the story and downplay the psychological complexity of the work, Scarlet Street is a masterpiece of Noir ? and explores themes of pimping and prostitution considered taboo at the time. A remake of a Jean Renoir?s La Chienne, Scarlet Street takes a Noir formula to new heights of dark fatalism and bitterness. Edward G. Robinson, usually the ?heavy?, plays against type as a henpecked bank clerk who moonlights as a painter. The film itself takes the form of Greek or even Jacobean tragedy and unfolds on many levels as a lonely man seeking love is exploited and pushed further and further over the brink. The use of ambient sound is innovative, the lighting and cinematography are nearly flawless. The DVD, however, is a disgrace. The transfer looks as if it is an old TV version that someone has blurred badly to remove traces of dust and scratches. Its sad that once again a bunch of chancers have bought the rights to a masterpiece by one of the most important directors of the 20th century, blurred it a bit and have banged it on to a budget DVD. Scarlet Street should be properly restored and presented by professionals, like M and Metropolis and not presented in this disrespectful, bargain basement manner. Still unmissable in any form, though.