“Street Scene” is a 1931 film directed by King Vidor, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name by Elmer Rice. The film takes place in a New York City tenement building and follows the lives of several families and individuals living there.
The central plot revolves around the Maurrant family, consisting of Anna (Estelle Taylor), her husband Frank (David Landau), and their teenage daughter Rose (Sylvia Sidney). Anna is unhappily married to Frank, who is abusive and frequently absent. Rose is in love with their neighbor, Sam Kaplan (William Collier Jr.), but her parents disapprove of the relationship due to Sam being Jewish.
As the film progresses, tensions rise between the characters and several subplots emerge. A group of gossiping women spread rumors about their neighbors, a young couple deals with infidelity, and a single mother struggles to provide for her child.
The film’s climax comes when Frank returns home and discovers Anna’s affair with the milkman. In a fit of rage, he kills Anna and is subsequently arrested. The film ends with the community coming together to mourn Anna’s death and reflect on their own lives.
“Street Scene” is notable for its realistic portrayal of urban life in early 20th-century America, as well as its use of naturalistic acting and cinematography. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Directors:
King Vidor
Writer:
Elmer Rice
Stars:
Sylvia Sidney, William Collier Jr., Estelle Taylor
