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IMDbPro

Back Street

  • 19411941
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
638
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
83,408
23,362
Charles Boyer and Margaret Sullavan in Back Street (1941)
Drama
Five years after meeting and falling in love with a banker, a willful shop girl decides to become his mistress upon learning he has since gotten married and had a son.Five years after meeting and falling in love with a banker, a willful shop girl decides to become his mistress upon learning he has since gotten married and had a son.Five years after meeting and falling in love with a banker, a willful shop girl decides to become his mistress upon learning he has since gotten married and had a son.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
638
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
83,408
23,362
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Robert Stevenson
    • Writers
      • Bruce Manning(screen play)
      • Felix Jackson(screen play)
      • Fannie Hurst(novel)
    • Stars
      • Charles Boyer
      • Margaret Sullavan
      • Richard Carlson
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Robert Stevenson
    • Writers
      • Bruce Manning(screen play)
      • Felix Jackson(screen play)
      • Fannie Hurst(novel)
    • Stars
      • Charles Boyer
      • Margaret Sullavan
      • Richard Carlson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 18User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos71

    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)
    Back Street (1941)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charles Boyer
    Charles Boyer
    • Walter Saxel
    Margaret Sullavan
    Margaret Sullavan
    • Ray Smith
    Richard Carlson
    Richard Carlson
    • Curt Stanton
    Frank McHugh
    Frank McHugh
    • Ed Porter
    Tim Holt
    Tim Holt
    • Richard Saxel
    Frank Jenks
    Frank Jenks
    • Harry Niles
    Esther Dale
    Esther Dale
    • Mrs. Smith
    Samuel S. Hinds
    Samuel S. Hinds
    • Felix Darren
    Peggy Stewart
    Peggy Stewart
    • Fredda Smith
    Nell O'Day
    Nell O'Day
    • Elizabeth Saxel
    Kitty O'Neil
    • Mrs. Dilling
    Nella Walker
    Nella Walker
    • Corinne Saxel
    Cecil Cunningham
    Cecil Cunningham
    • Mrs. Miller
    Marjorie Gateson
    Marjorie Gateson
    • Mrs. Adams
    Dale Winter
    Dale Winter
    • Miss Evans
    Eddie Acuff
    Eddie Acuff
    • Andy
    • (uncredited)
    Dorothy Adams
    Dorothy Adams
    • Mrs. Brown
    • (uncredited)
    William Alston
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Stevenson
    • Writers
      • Bruce Manning(screen play)
      • Felix Jackson(screen play)
      • Fannie Hurst(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Back Street

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A contemporary article in the Los Angeles Examiner stated Joan Fontaine was originally cast in the female lead, but she was replaced by Margaret Sullavan before shooting began.
    • Goofs
      In the closing sequences, which are supposed to be taking place in 1928, all of the women's hair styles and clothes, particularly those of Nell O'Day, and especially Margaret Sullavan's square shouldered fur cape, are strictly contemporary 1941.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Universal Story (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Auld Lang Syne
      (uncredited)

      Traditional Scottish music

      Lyrics by Robert Burns

      Sung by New Year's Eve party revellers

    User reviews18

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A twist of fate
    This second version of Back Street stars Margaret Sullavan as the Fannie Hurst heroine who contents herself with being a mistress to a well known and rich business executive. She has a few chances at marriage with others but this woman won't settle for what she considers second best.

    Margaret Sullavan had that tragic quality to her that made her cast so well in these parts. She had an unusual amount of screen deaths among her films like Three Comrades and No Sad Songs For Me. In this one she chooses what amounts to a living death with only moments of happiness.

    It was a chance meeting at a railroad station that she meets up and coming business executive Charles Boyer. Boyer's French accent is explained by saying he was originally from New Orleans. Boyer too was born for romantic parts and he had just come off films like Algiers, Love Story, Hold Back The Dawn and All This And Heaven Too. Anoher player born for romance, happy or tragic.

    It's a moment of capricious fate arranged by one of Sullavan's male acquaintances Frank Jenks that keeps them apart as she misses a riverboat that she was to leave on with Boyer. The next time they meet Boyer is married, but she agrees to be his mistress she loves him so.

    Noting some other fine performances in this version are Esther Dale as Sullavan's stepmother, Frank McHugh as a traveling salesman who introduces Boyer and Sullavan, Richard Carlson as another male acquaintance whose proposal she turns down and who makes a fortune in the up and coming automobile business Samuel S. Hinds as Boyer's father-in-law.

    Three of Hollywood's best actresses have played Ray Smith. In order Irene Dunne, Margaret Sullavan and Susan Hayward. Who was best in the role who can say. But I wouldn't want to bet money on a contest poll on any of them. Ray Smith is a choice female role and three choice players have done it.
    helpful•2
    0
    • bkoganbing
    • Feb 6, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 7, 1941 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fanny Hurst's Back Street
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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