Where The Sidewalk Ends(1950)

Where the Sidewalk Ends(1950). Noir. Director and produced by Otto Preminger. The screenplay for the film was written by Ben Hecht, and adapted by Robert E. Kent, Frank P. Rosenberg, and Victor Trivas. The screenplay and adaptations were based on the novel Night Cry by William L. Stuart. Cast: Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney, Karl Malden and Gary Merrill.

New York City Police Detective Dixon, who's already in trouble with his superiors for his interrogating methods. Accidentally hits Paine in self-defense and kills him. Dixon dumps Paine's body in the river, and is later assigned to find his killer. Dixon tries to place the blame on an old gangster, Tommy Scalise, but.. somehow the blame for the killing points to cab driver Jiggs Taylor. Because he had reasons to want his abusive son-in-law dead. During the investigation Dixon falls in love with Jigg's daughter, Morgan Taylor-Paine. Dixon tries to clear the cab driver without implicating himself. Unfortunately, things start to get too complicated. Detective Lt. Thomas, is convinced that the cab driver is the killer. In an attempt to save the cab driver and blame Scalise, Dixon becomes involved in a shoot-out which leaves Scalise dead and Jiggs is cleared of all charges. Will Dixon ever do the right thing?

I thought Where the Sidewalk Ends, is one of the best detective films of the 50's, with different moral values.


FUN FACT:

This is the last in a series of films that Otto Preminger made for Twentieth Century Fox in the 1940's. The series includes "Laura", which also stars Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews, "Whirlpool", and "Fallen Angel"



Author William Stuart got his start writing for televised "Hallmark Hall of Fame" and "Kraft Theater" during the 1950s. He also wrote scripts for a number of series, as well as novels. In 1950, his book Night Cry was made into the film noir "Where the Sidewalk Ends" in 1950.