quibus Review of East Side, West Side

East Side, West Side (1949)

Love triangle, in which the femme fatale is murdered

[7/10 · 26 June 2006]

Barbara Stanwyck is the lady. What a grace, what a style. Ava Gardner the temptress. A gorgeous woman, full of desire. Fortunately the word "sexy" was not yet invented, and Ava can therefor not be trivialized by that description. Powerful acting by top actresses, perfectly matched by James Mason in a glorious setting of old New York. Cigarettes were an essential part of the movies in those days. And amazing, to see all those vintage cars on Fifth Avenue. Indoors the stairs, rooms, wooden furniture, chandeliers and beds of an age long gone by. The story is classic. Each actor is given the opportunity to show his or her character. The women play the essential roles. The male actors are secondary, but essential, of course. They don't make movies like that anymore.