Tuesday's Overlooked Films: Where the Sidewalk Ends

This 1950 film noir directed and produced by Otto Preminger paired Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney again from Preminger's big hit film Laura released in 1944. I've watched Laura several times on tape, and I got to say I like this grittier film better. Plus Karl Malden (so young looking!) has a meaty role here, and I've always liked his acting chops. The plot is pretty straightforward. Dana plays a hardboiled cop who gets a little rough with a suspect and accidentally kills him. The victim turns out to be a big decorated war hero who drinks too much. He also is separated from his wife played by Gene. Of course, Dana goes to a lot of trouble to cover up his misdeed while he falls in love with the always gorgeous Gene. When Gene's father is tagged for the murder, things get more complicated and interesting. Gary Merrill plays a good slick-talking mobster chieftain who Dana wants to pin the murder on. Ben Hecht wrote the dialogue so you know it is going to be snappy and peppered with street slang. All in all, Where the Sidewalk Ends is a nice treat of a film noir to watch and enjoy.