The Big Street1942
The Big Street (1942)
The Big Street Photos
Movie Info
Lucille Ball delivers the finest dramatic performance of her career in this satisfying adaptation of Damon Runyon's The Big Street. Ball is cast as Gloria, aka "Your Highness," the vain and thoroughly selfish star attraction of gangster Case Ables' (Barton MacLaine) New York nightclub. Henry Fonda costars as busboy Little Pinks, who worships Gloria from afar. When Gloria is crippled by a fall downstairs-caused by a blow across the face by the sadistic Ables-Little Pinks selflessly waits upon the invalided and doggedly ungrateful songstress hand and foot. So devoted to Gloria is Pinks that he's willing to pilot her wheelchair from Manhattan to Florida so that she can renew her romance with callow playboy Decatur Reed (William Orr). Touched by Pinks' loyalty, his Runyonesque friends-Professor B (Ray Collins), Horsethief (Sam Levene), Mr. and Mrs. Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Eugene Pallette, Agnes Moorehead) and all the rest-raise enough money to open a Florida nightclub so that Gloria can put up a brave front. The ending is at once the most lachrymose and most effectively moving scene in the film, one that can only be spoiled if detailed here. Produced by Damon Runyon himself, The Big Street is one of the few completely successful filmed Runyon adaptations-as well as Lucille Ball's finest hour (and a half) on-screen.
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Cast
Henry Fonda
as Agustus 'Little Pinks' Pinkerton, II
as Agustus 'Little Pinks' Pinkerton, II
Lucille Ball
as Gloria Lyons
as Gloria Lyons
Agnes Moorehead
as Violette Shumberg
as Violette Shumberg
Barton MacLane
as Case Ables
as Case Ables
Eugene Pallette
as Nicely Nicely Johnson
as Nicely Nicely Johnson
Sam Levene
as Horsethief
as Horsethief
Ray Collins
as Professor B
as Professor B
Marion Martin
as Mrs. Venus
as Mrs. Venus
William Orr
as Decatur Reed
as Decatur Reed
George Cleveland
as Col. Venus
as Col. Venus
Hans Conried
as Louie
as Louie
Vera Gordon
as Mrs. Lefkowitz
as Mrs. Lefkowitz
Louise Beavers
as Maid
as Maid
Millard Mitchell
as Gentleman George
as Gentleman George
Juan Varro
as Lou Adolia
as Lou Adolia
John Miljan
as McWhirter
as McWhirter
Julius Tannen
as Judge Bamberger
as Judge Bamberger
Charles Cane
as Cop
as Cop
Mimi Doyle
as Nurse at Hospital
as Nurse at Hospital
Eddie Dunn
as Mulvaney
as Mulvaney
Mary Halsey
as Bit part
as Bit part
Bert Hanlon
as Philip, the Weeper
as Philip, the Weeper
John Indrisano
as Mug at Mindy's
as Mug at Mindy's
Warren Jackson
as Mug at Mindy's
as Mug at Mindy's
Donald Kirke
as Surgeon
as Surgeon
George Magrill
as Mug at Mindy's
as Mug at Mindy's
Richard Martin
as Bit part
as Bit part
Tony Merlo
as Mug at Mindy's
as Mug at Mindy's
John 'Skins' Miller
as Truck Driver
as Truck Driver
Frank Moran
as Mug
as Mug
Ozzie Nelson
as Himself
as Himself
Bob Perry
as Toupee
as Toupee
Ralph Peters
as Florist
as Florist
Addison Richards
as Dr. Mitchell
as Dr. Mitchell
Dewey Robinson
as Truck Driver
as Truck Driver
Pedro de Cordoba
as Doctor
as Doctor
Sammy Stein
as Mug at Mindy's
as Mug at Mindy's
Mary Stuart
as Bit part
as Bit part
Elliott Sullivan
as Tramp
as Tramp
Ann Summers
as Cashier
as Cashier
Russell Wade
as Bit part
as Bit part
Marie Windsor
as Girl
as Girl
Critic Reviews for The Big Street
All Critics (2) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (1)
Ball, who was born for the parts Ginger Rogers sweats over, tackles her "emotional" role as if it were sirloin and she didn't care who was looking.
February 22, 2018 | Full Review…
A dispiriting tale.
May 18, 2011 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Big Street
½
Henry is such a doormat in this you just want to shake him but a very fine supporting cast make it worthwhile and Lucy is mesmerizing in a completely atypical role.
jay nixon
Super Reviewer
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