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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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| producer = Sol C. Siegel
| producer = Sol C. Siegel
| screenplay = [[Garrett Fort]]
| screenplay = [[Garrett Fort]]
| based_on = [[Cornell Woolrich]]
| based_on = [[Cornell Woolrich]]<br>(based on a story)
| starring = [[Burgess Meredith]]<br>[[Claire Trevor]]
| 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
| 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]] directed by [[Jack Hively]] and 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 three 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 awakens in the middle of the street after wreckage falling from a building in [[New York City]] hits 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 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 disappeared without explanation a year earlier. As Frank slowly pieces together his old life, it turns out he is known by another name and running from a murder he cannot remember committing. Joe Marucci, a detective, is shadowing his every move.
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, the one Frank/Danny is suspected of killing, but she is a housebound invalid who also is mute. Through sign language, Frank/Danny learns from her that Ruth is the killer, Harry having caught her stealing. Frank/Danny's life is in danger until Marucci arrives and catches the culprit.
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==
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* [[Clancy Cooper]] as Burke
* [[Clancy Cooper]] as Burke
* Paul Phillips as Schoeder
* Paul Phillips as Schoeder
* Keith Richards as Intern
* Keith Richards as Interne
* [[Ann Doran]] as Miss Peabody
* [[Ann Doran]] as Miss Peabody
* [[Cliff Clark]] as Ryan, (Policeman)
* [[Cliff Clark]] as Ryan, (Policeman)
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==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], film review, ''Ozus' World Movie Reviews'', December 15, 2003. Accessed: July 6, 2013.</ref>
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>


==References==
==References==
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==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}}
* {{YouTube|fmvA3df71Us|''Street of Chance'' introduction}} by [[Eddie Muller]] at Noir City Seattle

===Streaming audio===
* [https://archive.org/download/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.
* [https://archive.org/download/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.


{{Jack Hively}}
{{Jack Hively}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Street of Chance}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Street of Chance}}
[[Category:1942 films]]
[[Category:1942 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1942 mystery films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Film noir]]
[[Category:Film noir]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
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[[Category:Films scored by David Buttolph]]
[[Category:Films scored by David Buttolph]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Cornell Woolrich]]
[[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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