After an accident, a New York man with amnesia finds out the ugly truth about his real identity and past by interacting with people who seem to know him well.After an accident, a New York man with amnesia finds out the ugly truth about his real identity and past by interacting with people who seem to know him well.After an accident, a New York man with amnesia finds out the ugly truth about his real identity and past by interacting with people who seem to know him well.
Kenneth Chryst
- Taxi Driver
- (uncredited)
Kernan Cripps
- Taxi Driver
- (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn
- Fireman
- (uncredited)
Ruth Gillette
- Blonde
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOne of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since. Its initial television broadcasts took place in Boston Friday 24 October 1958 on WBZ (Channel 4) and in Chicago Tuesday 6 January 1959 on WBBM (Channel 2), followed by Seattle Wednesday 28 January 1959 on KIRO (Channel 7), and by New York City Friday 30 January 1959 on WCBS (Channel 2); in Minneapolis it first aired 1 August 1959 on WTCN (Channel 11), in Detroit 22 September 1959 on WJBK (Channel 2), in Pittsburgh 7 October 1959 on KDKA (Channel 2), in Milwaukee 13 October 1959 on WITI (Channel 6), and in Omaha 19 November 1959 on KETV (Channel 7).
- Quotes
Frank Thompson: You oughta have a good sock on the jaw.
Ruth Dillon: Go ahead - sock me. Danny, I'd go through anything for you but never lie to me.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Nightmare: The Life and Films of Cornell Woolrich (2022)
Featured review
As luck would have it
Street of Chance is directed by Jack Hively and adapted to screenplay by Garrett Fort from the novel "The Black Curtain" written by Cornell Woolrich. It stars Burgess Meredith, Claire Trevor, Louise Platt, Sheldon Leonard, Frieda Inescort and Jerome Cowan. Music is by David Buttolph and cinematography by Theodor Sparkuhl.
After being felled by falling wreckage from a New York building, Frank Thompson awakes in the street to find he has some sort of amnesia and his life may not be as he thought. As he starts to piece together his life he comes to realise he may have committed a murder and is actually on the run!
An early entry in the original film noir cycle, Street of Chance takes what would become a familiar film noir theme, amnesia, and seasons it with betrayal and the vagaries of fate. It's also a point of interest to note that it's the first filmic adaptation of one of noir hero Woolrich's literary works, while the visual marker set here by Sparkuhl (Among the Living) signposts the influence of German Expressionism on the noir film making style. The visuals range from low lighted cramped rooms to the various diagonal and vertical shadows that psychologically patternize the spaces inhabited by the lead characters.
The story itself is not so hot, once the narrative settles into a steady and unspectacular rhythm, as the key ladies in Frank Thompson's life come into play, there's a distinct lack of mystery or suspense. Which is a shame as the acting is of good quality even if the principals aren't asked to stretch their respective thespian skills. Still, with the visuals so strong and the satisfying Woolrich feel to proceedings (though the finale is changed here from that of the novel), it's worth seeking out by noiristas. 6.5/10
After being felled by falling wreckage from a New York building, Frank Thompson awakes in the street to find he has some sort of amnesia and his life may not be as he thought. As he starts to piece together his life he comes to realise he may have committed a murder and is actually on the run!
An early entry in the original film noir cycle, Street of Chance takes what would become a familiar film noir theme, amnesia, and seasons it with betrayal and the vagaries of fate. It's also a point of interest to note that it's the first filmic adaptation of one of noir hero Woolrich's literary works, while the visual marker set here by Sparkuhl (Among the Living) signposts the influence of German Expressionism on the noir film making style. The visuals range from low lighted cramped rooms to the various diagonal and vertical shadows that psychologically patternize the spaces inhabited by the lead characters.
The story itself is not so hot, once the narrative settles into a steady and unspectacular rhythm, as the key ladies in Frank Thompson's life come into play, there's a distinct lack of mystery or suspense. Which is a shame as the acting is of good quality even if the principals aren't asked to stretch their respective thespian skills. Still, with the visuals so strong and the satisfying Woolrich feel to proceedings (though the finale is changed here from that of the novel), it's worth seeking out by noiristas. 6.5/10
- hitchcockthelegend
- Apr 4, 2014
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- Release date
- Country of origin
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- Language
- Also known as
- The Black Curtain
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 14 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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