"Side Street" released in 1950, is an excellent thriller from director Anthony Mann. Farley Granger plays an average working guy who hauls around a mail-bag to make a living. While delivering mail one day, he picks up some money lying around in an office -- well, actually be breaks into the file drawer to get it. Thinking he has only taken a small amount of money, it turns out to be several hundred thousand. This sets off a wild chain of events, with Granger conflicted about what to do. The money is tempting, as his wife (Cathy O'Donnell) is in the hospital having a baby. However, Granger doesn't realize who the money belongs to. The film gets quite complicated and edgy, with murder and a spectacular car chase thrown in at the end. The New York City locations are great fun to watch, and the wonderful black and white cinematography has Anthony Mann's stamp all over it. There are some fine supporting performances, notably from James Craig, playing a ruthless thug, and Jean Hagen has a great part as a boozy bar singer. Cathy O'Donnell isn't given much to do here except look worried. However, this is Farley Granger's show, and he does not disappoint. It's a shame Granger never got the recognition he deserved. Perhaps he just wasn't offered more great parts or maybe he was too good-looking to be taken seriously. Either way, this is a fine film, a true example of the noir films coming out of Hollywood in the late 1940's and early 1950's.
Review of Side Street
