The Big Street
| The Big Street | |
|---|---|
Original poster
|
|
| Directed by | Irving Reis |
| Produced by | Damon Runyon |
| Screenplay by | Leonard Spigelgass |
| Based on |
Little Pinks Collier's Weekly (1940) by Damon Runyon |
| Starring |
Henry Fonda Lucille Ball |
| Music by | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Edited by | William Hamilton |
|
Production
company |
|
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures (US) |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Big Street is a 1942 American drama film, starring Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball, based on the short story "Little Pinks" by Damon Runyon, who also produced the movie. The film was directed by Irving Reis. The screenplay was written by Leonard Spigelgass from Runyon's story.
The film focuses on busboy Augustus Pinkerton II (Henry Fonda), known as "Little Pinks," and his relationship with heartless singer Gloria Lyons (Lucille Ball), who is crippled in a fall after her boyfriend, New York City nightclub owner Case Ables (Barton MacLane), pushes her down a flight of stairs in a fit of jealousy. Left penniless by the expenses she incurs during a long convalescence, Gloria is forced to rely on the kindness of Pinks, who invites her to stay with him in his apartment.
When Pinks' friend Violette Shumberg (Agnes Moorehead) marries Nicely Nicely Johnson (Eugene Pallette) and the couple moves to Florida, Gloria orders Pinks to take her there to recuperate, and he pushes her to Miami in her wheelchair. There she reunites with an old lover, Decatur (William T. Orr), who loses interest in her when he discovers she is an invalid. Angry, she lashes out at Pinks, who leaves her and finds work as a busboy in a club owned by Case, only to return when Violette tells him Gloria is ill.
Despondent, Gloria confesses she longs to spend one last night in a gown bedecked with jewels. When Pinks sees socialite Mimi Venus (Marion Martin) wearing one, he breaks into her home, where he overhears her being blackmailed by one of Case's thugs, who is threatening to publicize her infidelity unless she gives him her jewelry. Pinks disguises himself and retrieves the gems from the thief, then tells Case he will report him to the police unless he agrees to host a party with Gloria as the guest of honor.
...
Wikipedia