Scarlet Street (1945)

Director: Fritz Lang

Writers: Georges de La Fouchardiere, Andre Mouezy-Eon, Dudley Nichols

Composer: Hans J. Salter

Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Dan Duryea, Margaret Lindsay, rosalind Ivan, Jess Barker, Charles Kepmer, Anita Sharp-Bolster, Samual S. Hinds, Vladimir Sokoloff, Arthur Loft, Russell Hicks

More info: IMDb

Tagline: The GREAT STARS and DIRECTOR of "Woman in the Window"

Plot: Chris Cross, 25 years a cashier, has a gold watch and little else. That rainy night, he rescues delectable Kitty from her abusive boyfriend Johnny. Smitten, amateur painter Chris lets Kitty think he's a wealthy artist. At Johnny's urging, she lets Chris establish her in an apartment (with his shrewish wife's money). There, Chris paints masterpieces; but Johnny sells them under Kitty's name, with disastrous and ironic results.

My rating: 9/10

Will I watch this again? YES!!! (as he stabs NO sixteen times)

I've loved this movie to pieces since I first saw it probably 25 years ago.  It's absolutely brilliant.  Robinson plays Chris with such pathos that you can't help but feel for the guy.  Everyone does a great job but it's Robinson that gets the emotion.  Bennett (as the bad new broad, Kitty) and especially Duryea (Kitty's boyfriend and all 'round douchebag) really bring home the worst in people.  You really learn to hate them and practically from the beginning. By the end of the film you're practically pushing them toward their doom, and boy do they get it!  When Kitty meets her fate it's like a surprise Jack in the box out of nowhere.  This picture really brings out the fury.  It's just horrible what they did to Chris. It's really wonderful how the whole thing wraps up.  It's not pretty for any of the principle players and none of them really deserved what fell upon them (if you really give it some thought).  I'd love to go into more detail but that would mean major spoilers and I'd rather you check it out for yourself.  It's one of the best Film Noir pictures out there and probably my second favorite behind DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) which also stars Eddie G..