Review of Side Street (1950) by Daniel K — 11 Sep 2007

Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell definitely should have been paired together more often. They look and feel like they belong together. Both are excellent, as is Jean Hagen. Excellent noir with perfect NYC settings.

One rarely sees the city used so effectively. What I thought was strange was that the chase scene reminded me a little of the scene where Al Pacino and Chris O'Donnell drive around NYC in Scent of a Woman.

I guess this is because they're both filmed in lower Manhattan, but this is a particularly remarkable chase scene due to the angles and editing. I'd expect nothing less than this gem from Anthony Mann.

I find it interesting how closer the major plot elements in a noir such as this can parallel a Hitchcock and yet be totally different and have a completely different feel and aesthetic.