I am afraid the DVD copy I found of SCARLET STREET is poor, worse even than many VHS copies - so that was a poor start. Robinson has a commanding performance as the aging man who appreciates beauty and thinks he can own it as one would own a painting. Bennett is very effective as the duplicitous woman who sponges off him to keep her amorous relationship with criminal Dan Duryea alive.I liked the film, but found Robinson's paintings as poor as the ending, with Robinson having voice hallucinations, and sleeping on a park bench.Fritz Lang's direction is very sound, and even enlightened at times, and this might even be, after THE BIG HEAT, one of his better films in the United States, but I was left with the impression that he missed some opportunities to make this a masterpiece. Still, it is well worth watching, at least once.

The Scarlet Street has a semblance of Film Noir, but it doesn't have a male (usually) lead disillusioned and at odds with a post war society, but more disillusioned with the world. And as the movie begins we can immediate empathize and connect with Robinson's character, and from this connection we truly feel what it's like for him when he loses everything, from making that one choice in his life. Director Lang, truly makes the film one of the most depressing shocking pieces of cinema that has to be seen, most people don't really want to see a movie that not going to have a happy ending, but seeing this film will be worth it. It's so rich in cinematography, acting, editing, director influence, it would be a shame not to see it

Christopher Cross, as portrayed by Edward G. Robinson, is mild-mannered, polite, and generally someone the audience can sympathize--or even identify--with. Throughout the film, I found myself cringing for him each time he was tricked into further complicating and upsetting his life.Nearly every character is infuriating this way, which speaks to the acting and the writing. It's not a typical movie about serving justice in response to unjust actions; it says more about the cruel nature of the world.In addition to that, the camera work and sets make for a really beautiful film. There was a lot of glass involved in the sets of Scarlet Street, and the cinematography made the most of it. The settings are often light-filled, beautiful, in direct contrast with the goings-on of the film (though in many ways reflective of Cross's deluded feelings of love). This puts it in a very strange place in terms of noir film, staying true to the genre in as many ways as it (generally visually) does not.At its heart, though, that is exactly what it is. Though the visuals aren't gritty, the story elements and tone certainly are. Cross is a man deceived, and then haunted. The employment of non-diegetic, internal sound to represent that haunted feeling Cross has makes the audience feel as many things as watching Cross be deceived earlier in the film.Scarlet Street is unforgettable because it's so powerful.

This is definitely one of the best movies I have seen all through out Cinema history. It had me on the edge of my seat from the first frame to the last.Brilliant direction by Fritz Lang who times and measures every nuance and emotion of this movie like a master conductor.The cast are equally brilliant with Edward G Robinson taking us through this journey like a close and trusted friend.The timing and pace of the movie is a work of art and genius. This is extremely rare to get all the elements so right in a movie. And Fritz Lang has done it.This is an all time classic that stands the test of time. A Truly great masterpiece.