STREET OF CHANCE is one of those crime flicks from the early 1940s that's of interest primarily to fans of noir. It defines some of the distinguishing characteristics of the genre-- a story about a man who's become a victim of circumstances, dealing with the unbalanced world in which he lives.
Burgess Meredith, in a rare starring role, plays an amnesiac who can't account for a specific period of his life. While he had been away from his wife (Louise Platt), he took on another identity...and as fate would have it, became involved in a murder. Is he innocent or guilty? A police detective (Sheldon Leonard) following his every move, thinks he's guilty.
Most of what unfolds concerns Meredith's quest to get to the truth and clear his name. His search for clues leads him to a woman (Claire Trevor) who works as a maid for a wealthy family. During the period when he was suffering from amnesia, he had become romantically entangled with her and she seems too eager to help him evade the law, though it makes him look guiltier.
The family that Trevor works for is headed by a mute elderly woman (Adeline De Walt Reynolds). The old gal seems to have witnessed the murder. She will ultimately provide testimony that will exonerate Meredith when she tells what she knows through blinking.
STREET OF CHANCE is based on a short piece of fiction by Cornell Woolrich called 'The Black Curtain.' Mr. Woolrich was a consummate storyteller who told gripping tales. His stories focused on the fine line between reality and what a main character wants to believe is real. Somewhat forgotten today, Woolrich deserve reappraisal.
Back to the film...Meredith is perfect as a meek and scrawny ordinary guy going up against the system. Various legal, political and social rules oppose him. In this regard, STREET OF CHANCE borrows its basic dilemma from 'The Trial' by Franz Kafka.
Meredith does a credible job pulling us into everything he's facing and having to endure. We want him to prevail and put the nightmare behind him. As for Miss Trevor, she gives a razor sharp performance as a calculating woman who stands in the way of Meredith's freedom. She's the real culprit, but she's a master manipulator. Fortunately, she is exposed in the end and doesn't get away with her misdeeds.
Burgess Meredith, in a rare starring role, plays an amnesiac who can't account for a specific period of his life. While he had been away from his wife (Louise Platt), he took on another identity...and as fate would have it, became involved in a murder. Is he innocent or guilty? A police detective (Sheldon Leonard) following his every move, thinks he's guilty.
Most of what unfolds concerns Meredith's quest to get to the truth and clear his name. His search for clues leads him to a woman (Claire Trevor) who works as a maid for a wealthy family. During the period when he was suffering from amnesia, he had become romantically entangled with her and she seems too eager to help him evade the law, though it makes him look guiltier.
The family that Trevor works for is headed by a mute elderly woman (Adeline De Walt Reynolds). The old gal seems to have witnessed the murder. She will ultimately provide testimony that will exonerate Meredith when she tells what she knows through blinking.
STREET OF CHANCE is based on a short piece of fiction by Cornell Woolrich called 'The Black Curtain.' Mr. Woolrich was a consummate storyteller who told gripping tales. His stories focused on the fine line between reality and what a main character wants to believe is real. Somewhat forgotten today, Woolrich deserve reappraisal.
Back to the film...Meredith is perfect as a meek and scrawny ordinary guy going up against the system. Various legal, political and social rules oppose him. In this regard, STREET OF CHANCE borrows its basic dilemma from 'The Trial' by Franz Kafka.
Meredith does a credible job pulling us into everything he's facing and having to endure. We want him to prevail and put the nightmare behind him. As for Miss Trevor, she gives a razor sharp performance as a calculating woman who stands in the way of Meredith's freedom. She's the real culprit, but she's a master manipulator. Fortunately, she is exposed in the end and doesn't get away with her misdeeds.