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      Back Street

      Released Oct 11, 1961 1 hr. 47 min. Drama List
      Reviews 70% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Fannie Hurst's best seller of a married man and his mistress who foster a passionate affair for over 20 years. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (20) audience reviews
      Audience Member Great movie Hala recommend this one James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas July 18, 2023 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Adapted from the 1931 Fannie Hurst novel and the 1932 film version — which it follows nearly scene-for-scene — this sympathetic tale of an adulterous couple was pretty unique for 1941, as you wouldn't think this type of behavior would play well then. It was also remade in 1961 with Susan Hayward and John Gavin in the lead roles. This take on the story — Hurst also wrote Imitation of Life — stars Margaret Sullavan as Ray Smith, who has her pick of many men, but the one she wants, Walter Louis Saxel (Charles Boyer) gets away by the whim of fate. Years later, they reconnect and she becomes his kept woman, literally at his beck and call while he leads a family life and has her for his pleasure. They're so connected that she dies moments after listening to him expire on the telephone. As sad as this ending is, both Sullivan and Boyer would die from overdoses. On a happier note, she wanted Boyer to be in this movie so much that she gave up her normal top billing. It's pretty controversial material for Robert Stevenson, who would go on to direct Mary Poppins, That Darn Cat and Old Yeller. Alfred Hitchcock was the original choice of director, so I can only imagine how he would have made this soap opera of a film Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review ashley h Back Street is an okay film. It is about a married man and his mistress who foster a passionate affair for over 20 years. Susan Hayward and John Gavin give decent performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. David Miller did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I love these soapy movies. This is Susan Hayward in the second remake of this film. Ross Hunter produced Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/21 Full Review Audience Member One of the best movies of all time!! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member ***Due to the recent RT changes that have basically ruined my past reviews, I am mostly only giving a rating rather than a full review.*** Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Back Street

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (2) Critics Reviews
      Isabel Quigly The Spectator It's so delicious bad it's monumental, a masterpiece of nonsense. Jun 18, 2018 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com The third version of Fannie Hurst's novel, filmed in 1932 and 1941, is the weakest: Susan Hayward may be too old and too tough for the part. Rated: C+ Jan 25, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Fannie Hurst's best seller of a married man and his mistress who foster a passionate affair for over 20 years.
      Director
      David Miller
      Screenwriter
      Eleanore Griffin, William Ludwig
      Distributor
      Universal Pictures
      Production Co
      Universal/Universal Int
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Oct 11, 1961, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      May 23, 2012