The Street with No Name **** (1948, Mark Stevens, Richard Widmark, Lloyd Nolan, Barbara Lawrence, Ed Begley) – Classic Movie Review 3466

The 1948 film noir movie The Street with No Name is a follow-up to the hit 1945 The House on 92nd Street and stars Mark Stevens as FBI undercover agent Gene Cordell, who infiltrates a deadly US crime gang.

Director William Keighley’s 1948 film noir movie The Street with No Name is a particularly powerful and strong entry in 20th Century Fox’s cycle of documentary-style thrillers, with a barnstorming Richard Widmark reprising a version of his classic villainous turn from his début in the previous year’s Kiss of Death. FBI agents take on organised crime in the Skid Row section of fictional Center City, actually Los Angeles.

Widmark is back in trilby, floor-length coat and uncivil sneer as Alec Stiles, the neurotic mastermind leader of the ruthless gangster mob infiltrated by FBI undercover agent Gene Cordell (Mark Stevens) under the alias of George Manly, at the request of FBI Inspector George Briggs, Cordell’s superior.

It is a sequel to the 1945 hit The House on 92nd Street, in which Briggs and the FBI agents take on an infamous real-life Nazi spy ring, and Lloyd Nolan reprises his role as FBI Inspector Briggs from that film.

Director William Keighley makes an excellent job of directing this gripping story, with plenty of detail about the rival FBI and gang methods, fleshed out by facts from a real-life case. The film is shot in a noir semi-documentary style by cinematographer Joseph MacDonald.

The acting is first rate throughout, but especially from Widmark, Lloyd Nolan (as FBI Inspector George Briggs), Barbara Lawrence (as Judy Stiles) and Ed Begley (as Chief Bernard Harmatz), who are all particularly good value in the fragrant cast.

Also in the cast are Donald Buka, Joseph Pevney, John McIntire, Walter Greaza, Howard Smith, Billy Mauch, Sam Edwards, Don Kohler, Roger McGee, Vincent Donahue, Joan Blair, Fred Graham, Joe Gray, Joe Haworth, Joe McTurk, Jack Herrick, Don Jessee, Robert Karnes, Mike Killian, Lyle Latell, George Leonard, Marion Marshall, Kitty McHugh, Robert Patten, Philip Pine, Wally Scott, Sammy Shack, Michael Sheridan, Randy Stuart, Charles Tannen, Al Thompson, Philip Van Zandt, Billy Wayne, Robert Williams and Buddy Wright.

Harry Kleiner’s screenplay was reworked when The Street with No Name was remade by Samuel Fuller as House of Bamboo in 1955.

June Haver turned down the lead female part of Judy Stiles, calling it an ‘unimportant role’ was put on suspension by 20th Century Fox. She said: ;After playing that role, I won’t have any name.’ Barbara Lawrence took over as Judy Stiles.

Barbara Lawrence, who played Gertie Cummings in Oklahoma! (1955), died on on 13 November 2013, aged 83. As well as The Street with No Name, she also starred in A Letter to Three Wives and the 1957 sci-fi Kronos.

Mark Stevens, Barbara Lawrence and Richard Widmark in The Street with No Name.

The cast are Mark Stevens as Gene Cordell/ George Manly, Richard Widmark as Alec Stiles, Lloyd Nolan as FBI Inspector George A Briggs, Barbara Lawrence as Judy Stiles, Ed Begley as Police Chief Bernard Harmatz, Donald Buka as Shivvy, Joseph Pevney as Matty, John McIntire as Cy Gordon, Howard Smith as Commissioner Demory, Walter Greaza, Billy Mauch, Sam Edwards, Don Kohler, Roger McGee, Vincent Donahue, Joan Blair, Fred Graham, Joe Gray, Joe Haworth, Joe McTurk, Jack Herrick, Don Jessee, Robert Karnes, Mike Killian, Lyle Latell, George Leonard, Marion Marshall, Kitty McHugh, Robert Patten, Philip Pine, Wally Scott, Sammy Shack, Michael Sheridan, Randy Stuart, Charles Tannen, Al Thompson, Philip Van Zandt, Billy Wayne, Robert Williams and Buddy Wright.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3466

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