Street Scene (1931)

 

 

Twenty-four hours elapse on the stoop of a Hell's Kitchen tenement as a microcosm of the American melting pot interacts with each other during a summer heatwave. 

 

Remarkable adaptation of a award-winning play literally creates the titular street scene in a studio with good details and sense for realism; enhanced by overall excellent performances.

 

Halliwell*: "Slice-of-life drama from an influential play; never much of a film, and very dated."

Maltin***1/2: "Heartbreakingly realistic account of life in N.Y.C. tenements...Elmer Rice's Pulitzer Prize-winning play...enhanced by fine performances, George Barnes' striking camera-work, Alfred Newman's classic music score."