Streets of the cosmopolitan city
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Streets of the cosmopolitan city Streets of the big city |
| Original title | City Streets |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1931 |
| length | 83 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Rouben Mamoulian |
| script |
Oliver HP Garrett Max Marcin based on a story by Dashiell Hammett |
| production | E. Lloyd Sheldon |
| music |
Karl Hajos Ralph Rainger |
| camera | Lee Garmes |
| cut | William Shea |
| occupation | |
| |
Straßen der Weltstadt (German distribution title 1931) or Straßen der Großstadt (German post-war title first broadcast on television in 1969) is an American drama from 1931 directed by Rouben Mamoulian with Gary Cooper and Sylvia Sidney in the leading roles.
action
The lanky tall The Kid knows how to use the revolver perfectly, after all, he works in a shooting gallery. Young Nan Cooley has been blown away by the handsome young man since she first saw him. The gang boss Pop Cooley, Nan’s stepfather, wouldn’t have much objections to if The Kid joined his gang. Because thanks to Pop's lucrative criminal business, his Nan has been used to a high standard of living from an early age, and she shouldn't have to miss that from now on. With the income from the shooting gallery, however, so Pops argument, The Kid could hardly provide for the adequate maintenance of Nan. Since The Kid refuses, Pop Cooley tries to put him under pressure. He hands Nan the revolver with which he had just murdered fellow gangster Blackie on behalf of the boss "Big Fellow" Maskal (because Blackie had spoken out against Maskal's claim to Blackie's gangster bride Aggie). Now Nan is also involved in the dark business of her stepfather and, as Pop probably also hopes, The Kid with it.
Nan believes in her naivety that the mob to which Pop Cooley belongs will not leave her out in the rain after her arrest. In fact, she goes to jail, and just as in fact she leaves the gangster brood alone in the rain. The Kid, who genuinely loves the girl, has no choice but to join the gang. He visits Nan in prison, and the young woman is horrified when she sees him in an expensive fur coat, as this is a sign that The Kid has got involved with the gangsters. They are the same criminals who have just gunned down an inmate's gangster friend at the gates of the prison - a process that Nat witnessed. Nan wants to serve her sentence and from this point on has nothing to do with her stepfather's rabble. She demands that her boyfriend leave the mob, too, but The Kid has taken a liking to the pleasant life without financial worries and denies Nan's request. Old Cooley is also completely unapologetic and has meanwhile got involved with a calculating slut named Pansy.
Chief Boss Big Fellow Maskal, the guy you don't want to refuse, has meanwhile cast an eye on Nan and is holding a big welcome party in honor of the dismissed man, where she has to dance the whole time with the mighty gangster. The Kid doesn't just let himself be pushed aside and makes it clear to Maskal that his claims on Nan are older, whereupon Maskal threatens him quite clearly. Some of his thugs later turn up at The Kid to kill him. But this disarms her and now wants to pay Maskal back. Nan, who doesn't want the argument to escalate, warns Maskal and offers him to be his from now on if he should leave The Kid alone. Maskal goes into this dirty deal. Maskal's current flame, Aggie, realizes that and shoots her lover with Nan's revolver when he tries to go to Nan.
Now Nan threatens prison for the second time, this time she is even to be charged with murder. The Kid, now promoted to gang boss himself, frees Nan and with her, three of Maskal's men who want to avenge the murder of their dead boss, pile up behind her neck. Then rival thugs seize the fugitive couple to eliminate them. In a frenzied train, there is a life and death duel, with Nan grabbing a revolver and disarming The Kid and threatening villains and pushing them off the train. Now The Kid has finally had enough of "friends" that you can only meet in such a milieu. He and Nan decide to simply drive on and start a new life abroad, but above all without danger and gangsters.
Production notes
Metropolitan Streets was created in the winter of 1930/31 at Paramount Studios in Astoria, New York, and was premiered on April 18, 1931. The German premiere took place in December 1931, just a few days before Christmas. In Austria, the film had been shown under the title Pulverfaß New York the previous month, on November 6, 1931. On July 12, 1969, the film was shown for the first time on German television (also as a German post-war premiere) under the new title Straßen der Großstadt .
For Sylvia Sidney, then 20, this film marked her breakthrough to a cinema star.
Reviews
"Too much effort to artfully package pain, although the skillful handling and the elegant backdrops help."
"So many brilliant approaches that anyone who sees the film will predict Mamoulian will have a brilliant career."
Paimann's film lists summed up: “A subject that is often varied but gripping due to the authenticity of its milieu is continuously staged and excellently cast. (...) The presentation [is] decent, an excellent car sensation. "
"Tight, outdated underworld melodrama that deserves interest mainly due to the very cinematic implementation of its director."
"Mamoulian's insignificant detective film based on a novel by Hammett enabled one of Sylvia Sidney's best achievements and established her star career."
"Elegant melodrama interests more because of Mamoulian's innovative presentation (and the amazing cinematography by Lee Garmes) than the predictable story."
Web links
- Streets of the metropolis in the Internet Movie Database (English)
