Back Street

Universal knew how to wring the last tear out of an old soggy hankie. This was the third version of BACK STREET, and the only holdover from the 1941 picture was Skinner, who got an Oscar nomination for the music 20 years before. When Ross Hunter gets his manicured nails into something, you may be certain its not just a remake; its a glossy, glitzy, glamorous picture that is long on luxury. Susan Hayward (Brooklyns own Edith Marrener) is the Irene Dunne/Margaret Sullavan character and John Gavin plays the Boles/Boyer part. Vera Miles is third-billed as Gavins wife, a shrewish alcoholic who wont give John a divorce. Susan is ten years older than John and Vera but she looks good in Jean Louis Oscar-nominated gowns, and Stanley Cortezs soft-focus camerawork keeps her just fuzzy enough to be gorgeous (she was 43 when the film was made). Susan as "the other woman" not only chews up the scenery, she is hard at work gnawing the clothing as well. (texte officiel du distributeur)