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{{short description|1942 film by Jack Hively}}
{{For|the 1930 film|Street of Chance (1930 film)}}
{{For|the 1930 film|Street of Chance (1930 film)}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
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| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Jack Hively
| director = [[Jack Hively]]
| producer = Sol C. Siegel
| producer = Sol C. Siegel
| screenplay = [[Garrett Fort]]
| screenplay = [[Garrett Fort]]
| based on = {{based on|the novel ''The Black Curtain''|[[Cornell Woolrich]]}}
| based_on = [[Cornell Woolrich]]<br>(based on a story)
| starring = [[Burgess Meredith]]<br>[[Claire Trevor]]<br>[[Louise Platt]]
| starring = [[Burgess Meredith]]<br>[[Claire Trevor]]
| music = [[David Buttolph]]
| music = [[David Buttolph]]
| cinematography = [[Theodor Sparkuhl]]
| cinematography = [[Theodor Sparkuhl]]
| editing = [[Arthur P. Schmidt]]
| editing = [[Arthur P. Schmidt]]
| color_process = [[Black and white]]
| studio = Paramount Pictures
| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1942|10|3|United States}}
| released = {{Film date|1942|10|3|}}
| runtime = 74 minutes
| runtime = 74 minutes
| country = United States
| country = United States
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| gross =
| gross =
}}
}}
'''''Street of Chance''''' is a 1942 [[film noir]] starring [[Burgess Meredith]] as a man who finds he's been suffering from [[amnesia]] and [[Claire Trevor]] as a woman who protects him from the police, who suspect him of murder.
'''''Street of Chance''''' is a 1942 American [[film noir]] [[mystery film]] directed by [[Jack Hively]] and starring [[Burgess Meredith]] as a man who finds he has been suffering from [[amnesia]] and [[Claire Trevor]] as a woman who protects him from the police, who suspect him of murder. He is suspected of the murder of the wealthy Harry Diedrich. The only eyewitness to the murder was Harry's [[muteness|mute]] grandmother, and she can only communicate with others through [[sign language]].


The story was based on [[Cornell Woolrich]]'s novel ''[[The Black Curtain]]''. It was later dramatized several times on the [[CBS Radio]] series ''[[Suspense (radio program)|Suspense]]''.
The story was based on [[Cornell Woolrich]]'s novel ''The Black Curtain''. It was later dramatized three times on the [[CBS Radio]] series ''[[Suspense (radio program)|Suspense]]''.


==Plot==
==Plot==
Frank Thompson (Burgess Meredith), awakens in the middle of the street, after wreckage falling from a building in [[New York City]] hits him in the head. Frank soon discovers that his apartment has been rented out for a year and his wife Virginia has been living on her own elsewhere.
Frank Thompson awakens in the middle of the street after wreckage falling from a building in [[New York City]] narrowly misses hitting him on the head. Frank soon discovers that his apartment has been rented out for a year and his wife Virginia has been living on her own elsewhere.


Frank confronts Virginia (Louise Platt), who is shocked to see the husband who disappeared without explanation a year earlier. As Frank slowly pieces together his old life, it turns out he is running from a murder he cannot remember committing, and only an old, paralyzed woman can clear him.
Frank confronts Virginia, who is shocked to see the husband who, a year earlier, disappeared without explanation. As Frank slowly pieces together his old life, it turns out he is known by another name and is running from a murder he cannot remember committing. Detective Joe Marucci is shadowing his every move.

Looking for answers in the neighborhood where he awoke on the street, Frank meets Ruth Dillon who knows him only as "Danny". Ruth takes Frank/Danny to the mansion of the wealthy Diedrich family, where she has been employed as a servant. Family matriarch Grandma Diedrich was an eyewitness to the murder of son Harry (this is the murder of which Frank/Danny is suspected) but she is a housebound invalid who also is mute. Through sign language, Frank/Danny learns from her that Ruth is the killer - Harry had caught her stealing. Frank/Danny's life is in danger and a confrontation and a deadly struggle ensues. Marucci arrives to tie up loose ends.


==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Burgess Meredith]] as Frank Thompson aka Danny Nearing
* [[Burgess Meredith]] as Frank Thompson
* [[Claire Trevor]] as Ruth Dillon
* [[Claire Trevor]] as Ruth Dillon
* [[Louise Platt]] as Virginia Thompson
* [[Louise Platt]] as Virginia Thompson
* [[Sheldon Leonard]] as Detective Joe Marruci
* [[Sheldon Leonard]] as Joe Marucci
* [[Frieda Inescort]] as Alma Diedrich
* [[Frieda Inescort]] as Alma Diedrich
* [[Jerome Cowan]] as Bill Diedrich
* [[Jerome Cowan]] as Bill Diedrich
* [[Adeline De Walt Reynolds]] as Grandma Diedrich
* [[Arthur Loft]] as Sheriff Lew Stebbins
* [[Clancy Cooper]] as Burke
* Paul Phillips as Schoeder
* Keith Richards as Interne
* [[Ann Doran]] as Miss Peabody
* [[Cliff Clark]] as Ryan, (Policeman)
* [[Edwin Maxwell (actor)|Edwin Maxwell]] as Stillwell, D.A.


==Reception==
==Reception==


⚫
Film critic Dennis Schwartz liked the film and wrote, "Jack Hively efficiently directs an early film noir that establishes a number of conventions that helped define noir ... Though the murderer was too obvious by the halfway point, the film still had many disturbing moments that kept me interested."<ref>[http://homepages.sover.net/~ozus/streetofchance.htm Schwartz, Dennids] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211214014/http://homepages.sover.net/~ozus/streetofchance.htm |date=2017-12-11 }}, film review, ''Ozus' World Movie Reviews'', December 15, 2003. Accessed: July 6, 2013.</ref>
===Critical response===
⚫
Film critic Dennis Schwartz liked the film and wrote, "Jack Hively efficiently directs an early film noir that establishes a number of conventions that helped define noir ... Though the murderer was too obvious by the halfway point, the film still had many disturbing moments that kept me interested."<ref>[http://homepages.sover.net/~ozus/streetofchance.htm Schwartz, Dennids], film review, ''Ozus' World Movie Reviews'', December 15, 2003. Accessed: July 6, 2013.</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 47: Line 59:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0035388|title=Street of Chance}}
* {{IMDb title|tt0035388|title=Street of Chance}}
* {{Allmovie title|id=112038|title=Street of Chance}}
* {{AFI film|27484|title=Street of Chance}}
* {{Tcmdb title|id=91700|title=Street of Chance}}
* {{TCMDb title|91700|title=Street of Chance}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmvA3df71Us ''Street of Chance''] introduction by [[Eddie Muller]] at Noir City Seattle via [[YouTube]]


{{Jack Hively}}
===Streaming audio===
* [http://ia700604.us.archive.org/13/items/OTRR_Suspense_Singles/Suspense_431202_068_The_Black_Curtain_-128-44-_28211_30m00s.mp3 ''The Black Curtain''] on ''[[Suspense (radio program)|Suspense]]'': December 2, 1943. Radio drama of the novel on which the film is based.
* [http://ia600604.us.archive.org/13/items/OTRR_Suspense_Singles/Suspense_480103_278_The_Black_Curtain_-128-44-_50495_53m46s.mp3 ''The Black Curtain''] on ''[[Suspense (radio program)|Suspense]]'': January 3, 1948. Radio drama of the novel on which the film is based.


{{DEFAULTSORT:Street of Chance}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Street of Chance}}
[[Category:1942 films]]
[[Category:1942 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1942 mystery films]]
[[Category:Black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Film noir]]
[[Category:Film noir]]
[[Category:Films based on novels]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Jack Hively]]
[[Category:Films scored by David Buttolph]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Cornell Woolrich]]
⚫
[[Category:1940s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Garrett Fort]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:Films about amnesia]]
[[Category:Films set in country houses]]
[[Category:Films about murder]]

Latest revision as of 22:36, 24 November 2023

For the 1930 film, see Street of Chance (1930 film).
Street of Chance
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJack Hively
Screenplay byGarrett Fort
Based onCornell Woolrich
(based on a story)
Produced bySol C. Siegel
StarringBurgess Meredith
Claire Trevor
CinematographyTheodor Sparkuhl
Edited byArthur P. Schmidt
Music byDavid Buttolph
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Paramount Pictures
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • October 3, 1942 (1942-10-03)
Running time
74 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Street of Chance is a 1942 American film noir mystery film directed by Jack Hively and starring Burgess Meredith as a man who finds he has been suffering from amnesia and Claire Trevor as a woman who protects him from the police, who suspect him of murder. He is suspected of the murder of the wealthy Harry Diedrich. The only eyewitness to the murder was Harry's mute grandmother, and she can only communicate with others through sign language.

The story was based on Cornell Woolrich's novel The Black Curtain. It was later dramatized three times on the CBS Radio series Suspense.

Plot

[edit]

Frank Thompson awakens in the middle of the street after wreckage falling from a building in New York City narrowly misses hitting him on the head. Frank soon discovers that his apartment has been rented out for a year and his wife Virginia has been living on her own elsewhere.

Frank confronts Virginia, who is shocked to see the husband who, a year earlier, disappeared without explanation. As Frank slowly pieces together his old life, it turns out he is known by another name and is running from a murder he cannot remember committing. Detective Joe Marucci is shadowing his every move.

Looking for answers in the neighborhood where he awoke on the street, Frank meets Ruth Dillon who knows him only as "Danny". Ruth takes Frank/Danny to the mansion of the wealthy Diedrich family, where she has been employed as a servant. Family matriarch Grandma Diedrich was an eyewitness to the murder of son Harry (this is the murder of which Frank/Danny is suspected) but she is a housebound invalid who also is mute. Through sign language, Frank/Danny learns from her that Ruth is the killer - Harry had caught her stealing. Frank/Danny's life is in danger and a confrontation and a deadly struggle ensues. Marucci arrives to tie up loose ends.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Film critic Dennis Schwartz liked the film and wrote, "Jack Hively efficiently directs an early film noir that establishes a number of conventions that helped define noir ... Though the murderer was too obvious by the halfway point, the film still had many disturbing moments that kept me interested."[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Schwartz, Dennids Archived 2017-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, film review, Ozus' World Movie Reviews, December 15, 2003. Accessed: July 6, 2013.
[edit]
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