Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)

100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(1,271 ratings)

Dana Andrews is brutal metropolitan police detective Dixon, who despises all criminals because his father had been one. When the cops pick up two-bit gambler Ken Paine (Craig Stevens) as a murder suspect, Dixon subjects Paine to the third degree -- and accidentally kills him. In disposing of the… More Dana Andrews is brutal metropolitan police detective Dixon, who despises all criminals because his father had been one. When the cops pick up two-bit gambler Ken Paine (Craig Stevens) as a murder suspect, Dixon subjects Paine to the third degree -- and accidentally kills him. In disposing of the body, Dixon inadvertently places the blame for the killing on cab driver Jiggs Taylor (Tom Tully). Having fallen in love with Jigg's daughter, Morgan (Gene Tierney), Dixon tries to clear the cabbie without implicating himself, but ultimately he becomes trapped in a web of his own making; luckily Morgan promises to stand by him. Where the Sidewalk Ends was adapted from a novel by William L. Stuart; its director was Otto Preminger, who'd previously put Andrews and Tierney through their paces in Laura (1944). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Otto Preminger
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jul 7, 1950 Wide
On DVD: Dec 6, 2005
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Otto Preminger, director, does an excellent job of pacing the story and of building sympathy for Andrews.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Fox may not have plumbed the depths of realism this time, but it still looks interesting, even two-thirds of the way down.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The last of Otto Preminger's studio pictures at Fox, this 1950 feature has many of the noirish qualities of his Laura and Fallen Angel: Dana Andrews, ambiguity about the characters' dark undertones, and a fluid, fascinating mise en scene.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Hecht once again examines the fine line between cop and criminal with memorable results.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...features several effective (and unexpected) plot twists.
, Time Out
A weatherbeaten Andrews gives one of his finest performances.
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
A great way to satisfy a Dana Andrews-Gene Tierney craving.
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
An efficient, bleak noir with an Oedipal twist.
, Film4
A cool and atmospheric gangster film. It may not be particularly memorable, but it is fun to watch.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A fascinating brutish and dark film noir that is set in the corrupt milieu of the underworld.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

Dead solid Preminger / Andrews outing. Seedy side of New York is the setting for this bad-cop noir. Preminger quietly does some very cool things moving the camera and blocking his actors.
Randy T

I know that there is no such thing as the 'perfect film', but I it's hard to imagine how they could have made this one any better. The only thing that comes to mind is fixing Gene Tierney's annoying overbite. Maybe.
Bruce B

A good ole Black and White Police Drama, this one is about a Detective who is been warned about roughing up his suspects, while questioning one the fight and he kills him, so he tries his best to cover it up, which only leads to others being wrongfully blamed. The story then unfolds… More
A good ole Black and White Police Drama, this one is about a Detective who is been warned about roughing up his suspects, while questioning one the fight and he kills him, so he tries his best to cover it up, which only leads to others being wrongfully blamed. The story then unfolds as he tries to make all the wrongs fall into place. A movie ahead f its time. 4 stars.
AJ V

A brilliant story, part of the film noir left over from the 40s, and starring two famous noir actors: Tierney and Andrews. I loved this movie.
xGary X

Another solid noir from Otto Preminger, in which hard-boiled detective Dana Andrews juggles catching a murderous hood, covering up his accidental killing of a suspect and clearing the name of an innocent man who appears guilty of his crime. And he still has time to romance Gene… More
Another solid noir from Otto Preminger, in which hard-boiled detective Dana Andrews juggles catching a murderous hood, covering up his accidental killing of a suspect and clearing the name of an innocent man who appears guilty of his crime. And he still has time to romance Gene Tierney.
Michael G

Another great noir. Not an essential but still good.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Dana Andrews as Mark Dixon

            Gene Tierney as Morgan Taylor

            Gary Merrill as Tommy Scalise

            Bert Freed as Paul Klein

            Karl Malden as Lt. Bill Thomas

            Tom Tully as Jiggs Taylor

            Ruth Donnelly as Martha

            Craig Stevens as Ken Paine

            Robert Simon as Inspector Nicholas Foley

            Harry von Zell as Ted Morrison

            Don Appell as Willie Bender

            Neville Brand as Steve

            Grace Mills as Mrs. Tribaum

            Lou Krugman as Mike Williams

            David McMahon as Harrington

            David Wolfe as Sid Kramer

            Steve Roberts as Gilruth

            Phil Tully as Ted Benson

            Ian MacDonald as Casey

            John Close as Hanson

            John McGuire as Gertessen

            Lou Nova as Ernie

            Oleg Cassini as Mayer

            Louise Lorimer as Mrs. Jackson

            Lester Sharpe as Friedman

            Chili Williams as Teddy

            Robert Foulk as Fenney

            Mack Williams as Jerry Morris

            Duke Watson as Cab Driver

            Clancy Cooper as Lt. Arnaldo

            Joseph Granby as Fat Man

            Charles Flynn as Schwartz

            Larry Thompson as Riley

            Tony Barr as Hoodlum

            Barry Brooks as Thug

            John Day
            
            Bob Evans as Sweatshirt

            Anthony George as Thug

            Fred Graham as Attendant

            Kathleen Hughes as Secretary

            Louis Lane
            
            Lee MacGregor as Man

            John Marshall
            
            Eda Reiss Merin as Shirley Klein

            Peggy O'Connor as Model

            Robert Patten as Medical Examiner

            Ralph Peters as Counterman

            Clarence Straight as Detective

            John Trebach as Bartender

            Herbert C. Lytton as Joe

            Shirley Tegge
            
See full cast