{"id":18971,"date":"2011-08-01T10:21:13","date_gmt":"2011-08-01T17:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=18971"},"modified":"2020-12-21T22:53:49","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T05:53:49","slug":"where-the-sidewalk-ends-1950","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=18971","title":{"rendered":"Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You&#8217;re a good man with a good brain &#8212; but you&#8217;re no good to the department unless you learn to control yourself.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-Sidewalk-Ends-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-Sidewalk-Ends-Poster-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-18974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-Sidewalk-Ends-Poster-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-Sidewalk-Ends-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-Sidewalk-Ends-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA pugnacious detective (Dana Andrews) accidentally kills the estranged husband (Craig Stevens) of a woman (Gene Tierney) whose father (Tom Tully) becomes the prime suspect, then tries to pin the blame on an underworld crime boss (Gary Merrill).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dana Andrews Films<\/li>\n<li>Detectives and Private Eyes<\/li>\n<li>Falsely Accused<\/li>\n<li>Gary Merrill Films<\/li>\n<li>Gene Tierney Films<\/li>\n<li>Karl Malden Films<\/li>\n<li>Otto Preminger Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary accurately labels this &#8220;one of Otto Preminger&#8217;s best melodramas&#8221;, noting that it&#8217;s a &#8220;stylish, atmospheric film&#8221; with &#8220;a solid script by Ben Hecht&#8221;, &#8220;marred only by a trite, overly simplistic ending and the fact that the cops so easily convince Tierney&#8217;s father that he&#8217;ll be judged guilty&#8221;. I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve ever seen Andrews more convincing than he is here, playing a &#8220;brutal cop known for running roughshod over suspects&#8221; &#8212; an embittered man who, &#8220;influenced by sweet Tierney&#8221;, eventually &#8220;replaces [his] hostile feelings with a conscience&#8221;. The cast of supporting players is also notably fine, with even the tiniest of bit roles perfectly cast and executed (see stills below). Meanwhile, I would argue that Hecht&#8217;s script is even better than solid &#8212; it&#8217;s taut and gripping from beginning to finish, without any wasted scenes or dialogue, and based on a genuinely intriguing premise. From the opening scene &#8212; in which Andrews is confronted by his superiors, and warned that he&#8217;d better shape up or risk more than just demotion &#8212; to his accidental killing of Stevens and subsequent attempts to cover up his actions while wrongly fingering a reviled nemesis, we realize we&#8217;re witnessing refreshing shades of gray in what amounts to a suspenseful morality play. <\/p>\n<p>The final statement in Peary&#8217;s review, however, simply defies all belief: &#8220;Romance between leads would be more effective if Tierney were as pretty as she&#8217;d been in 1944&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=6718\"><em>Laura<\/em><\/a>.&#8221; ?????!!!!!!! What in the world is he talking about? While Tierney&#8217;s performance here isn&#8217;t particularly noteworthy (she&#8217;s the one exception to my claims above), she&#8217;s as beautiful as always &#8212; and since when did relative shades of attractiveness play any part in the effectiveness of an on-screen romance? Honestly. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney-1024x600.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"375\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58956\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney-1024x600.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney-128x75.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney-768x450.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney-1536x900.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney-461x270.png 461w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-Tierney.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dana Andrews as Mark Dixon<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Andrews.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine supporting performances all around<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Appell.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Appell-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Appell-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Appell-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Appell-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Appell.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Tully.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Tully-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Tully-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Tully-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Tully-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Tully.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Merrill.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Merrill-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Merrill-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Merrill-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Merrill-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Merrill.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Payne.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Payne-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Payne-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Payne-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Payne-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Payne.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Joseph LaShelle&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Cinematography-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Cinematography-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Cinematography-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Cinematography-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends-Cinematography.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ben Hecht&#8217;s smart, taut script<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as one of Preminger&#8217;s finest films, and an excellent <em>noir<\/em> all-around. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0043132\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1950\/07\/08\/archives\/the-screen-adventure-theme-in-new-films-burt-lancaster-plays-the.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1817side.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/95554\/where-the-sidewalk-ends#articles-reviews?articleId=333842\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a good man with a good brain &#8212; but you&#8217;re no good to the department unless you learn to control yourself.&#8221; Synopsis: A pugnacious detective (Dana Andrews) accidentally kills the estranged husband (Craig Stevens) of a woman (Gene Tierney) whose father (Tom Tully) becomes the prime suspect, then tries to pin the blame on an underworld crime boss (Gary Merrill). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Dana Andrews Films Detectives and Private Eyes Falsely Accused Gary Merrill Films Gene Tierney&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=18971\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18971"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58957,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18971\/revisions\/58957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}