Introduction
1931 American pre Code drama film by King Vidor Street Scene is a 1931 American pre Code drama film produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by King .1931 American pre Code drama film by King Vidor Street Scene is a 1931 American pre Code drama film produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by King .
With a screenplay by Elmer Rice adapted from his Pulitzer Prize winning play of the same name, Street Scene takes place on a New York City street from one evening until the following .With a screenplay by Elmer Rice adapted from his Pulitzer Prize winning play of the same name, Street Scene takes place on a New York City street from one evening until the following .
Except for one scene which takes place inside a taxi, Vidor shot the entire film on a single set depicting half a city block of house .Except for one scene which takes place inside a taxi, Vidor shot the entire film on a single set depicting half a city block of house .
The film stars Estelle Taylor, David Landau, Sylvia Sidney, William Collier Jr., and Beulah Bondi (her screen ).The film stars Estelle Taylor, David Landau, Sylvia Sidney, William Collier Jr., and Beulah Bondi (her screen ).
The music score is by Alfred Newman, his first complete film .The music score is by Alfred Newman, his first complete film .
Newman composed the eponymous title theme, in the style of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in .Newman composed the eponymous title theme, in the style of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in .
The theme has been used in other movies, including Cry of the City, Kiss of Death, I Wake Up Screaming, Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Dark Corner, Gentleman's Agreement and as the overture to How to Marry a .The theme has been used in other movies, including Cry of the City, Kiss of Death, I Wake Up Screaming, Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Dark Corner, Gentleman's Agreement and as the overture to How to Marry a .
In February 2020, the film was shown at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, as part of a retrospective dedicated to King Vidor's .In February 2020, the film was shown at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, as part of a retrospective dedicated to King Vidor's .
Plot
On a hot summer afternoon on the front stoop of a Lower East Side tenement building, Emma Jones gossips with other neighbors about the affair that Mrs. Anna Maurrant and the milkman Steve Sankey are .On a hot summer afternoon on the front stoop of a Lower East Side tenement building, Emma Jones gossips with other neighbors about the affair that Mrs. Anna Maurrant and the milkman Steve Sankey are .
When the rude and unfriendly Mr. Frank Maurrant arrives, they change the .When the rude and unfriendly Mr. Frank Maurrant arrives, they change the .
Meanwhile, their teenage daughter Rose Maurrant is being sexually pressured by her married boss, Mr. Bert .Meanwhile, their teenage daughter Rose Maurrant is being sexually pressured by her married boss, Mr. Bert .
However, Rose very much likes her kind young Jewish neighbor Sam, who has a serious crush on .However, Rose very much likes her kind young Jewish neighbor Sam, who has a serious crush on .
The next morning, Frank Maurrant tells his wife that he is traveling to Stamford on .The next morning, Frank Maurrant tells his wife that he is traveling to Stamford on .
Mrs. Maurrant meets the gentle Sankey in her apartment, but out of the blue Frank comes back .Mrs. Maurrant meets the gentle Sankey in her apartment, but out of the blue Frank comes back .
He realizes his wife is upstairs with Sankey, and runs .He realizes his wife is upstairs with Sankey, and runs .
We hear shots and see the two men struggling as Sankey tries to escape through the .We hear shots and see the two men struggling as Sankey tries to escape through the .
Maurrant runs out with a .Maurrant runs out with a .
He has killed Sankey and fatally wounded his .He has killed Sankey and fatally wounded his .
Maurrant is apprehended and is led away by .Maurrant is apprehended and is led away by .
He apologizes to his daughter Rose, who will now have to take care of herself and her young brother without either .He apologizes to his daughter Rose, who will now have to take care of herself and her young brother without either .
Rose's boss offers once again to set her up in her own apartment, but she .Rose's boss offers once again to set her up in her own apartment, but she .
Then she sees Sam, and tells him she wants to leave the .Then she sees Sam, and tells him she wants to leave the .
Sam pleads with her to let him go with her, but she tells him it will be better for the two of them to have a couple of years apart before they consider becoming a .Sam pleads with her to let him go with her, but she tells him it will be better for the two of them to have a couple of years apart before they consider becoming a .
Rose walks off down the street by .Rose walks off down the street by .