MovieChat Forums > Side Street (1950) Discussion > Chilling scene

Chilling scene

posted 15 years ago by Mr_McLaurel
2 replies | jump to latest

This is a pretty standard (though above-average) Anthony Mann noir. But there are a couple scenes where Mann's trademark brutality is evident. And one scene in particular is incredibly haunting: I'm talking about the scene with the bad guy strangling his girlfriend while kissing her. Brutal!

What's the Spanish for drunken bum?

[–] ridge-m-1 14 years ago

I have a problem with that scene. The victim does not kick or otherwise move her body in a way that the milkman would notice. I was unable to "suspend disbelief" as the strangulation played out. Liked the movie though and loved the chase scene and the shots of mid-century New York.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

ridge-m-1 says > I have a problem with that scene. The victim does not kick or otherwise move her body in a way that the milkman would notice. I was unable to "suspend disbelief" as the strangulation played out.

I remember that scene but not all the detail surrounding it. I do remember thinking she was shocked this was happening. When people are 'stunned' they can be in such disbelief they go numb and are unable to react physically so it's plausible.

There's also the possibility she realized her fate, knew no one could help her, and chose not to get anyone else killed as well. That's probably unlikely given the kind of ruthless person she was but anything is possible.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]