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Back Street

Play trailer Poster for Back Street Released Oct 11, 1961 1h 29m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In turn-of-the-century Cincinnati, vibrant shop girl Ray Smith (Margaret Sullavan) falls in love with banker Walter Saxel (Charles Boyer), who is engaged to a socially prominent woman. Inadvertently prevented from running away with Walter, Ray remains single but reunites with him five years later. Despite Walter being married and having a son, Ray becomes his mistress, and over the years suffers social ostracism and long stretches of solitude while waiting for their brief interludes together.

Critics Reviews

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Don Q. Cine-Mundial The comedy is entertaining. [Full Review in Spanish] Oct 2, 2023 Full Review George Orwell Time and Tide Whether one prefers Kitty Foyle or Back Street will perhaps depend on one’s feelings about the sanctity of marriage, but on the whole the dialogue and background of Back Street are better than in the other film. Oct 2, 2023 Full Review Frank J. Avella Edge Media Network Sullavan allegedly was so eager for Boyer to co-star that she agreed to take second billing a smart move, because every time the commanding actor is onscreen, the film comes to life. Rated: C Apr 1, 2022 Full Review TV Guide Staff TV Guide Fine performances by Charles Boyer and Margaret Sullavan distinguish Fannie Hurst's story about an illicit but enduring love affair. Sep 11, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com The second and best of the three Hollywood versions of Fannie Hurst's popular novel, largely due to the superlative acting of Margaret Sullavan and Charles Boyer Rated: A Jan 8, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The second and best of the three Hollywood versions of Fannie Hurst's popular novel, largely due to the superlative acting of Margaret Sullavan and Charles Boyer Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Back Street

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Back Street

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Movie Info

Synopsis In turn-of-the-century Cincinnati, vibrant shop girl Ray Smith (Margaret Sullavan) falls in love with banker Walter Saxel (Charles Boyer), who is engaged to a socially prominent woman. Inadvertently prevented from running away with Walter, Ray remains single but reunites with him five years later. Despite Walter being married and having a son, Ray becomes his mistress, and over the years suffers social ostracism and long stretches of solitude while waiting for their brief interludes together.
Director
Robert Stevenson
Producer
Frank Shaw
Screenwriter
Bruce Manning, Felix Jackson
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 11, 1961, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 29m