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Third Floor
Film Series at Library
The Greenville Third Floor Film Series will conclude its 2015 season in
November with a screening of the film noir masterpiece Scarlet Street.
Directed by Fritz Lang, the film stars Edward G. Robinson and Joan
Bennett.
German-born director Lang made his name directing films in that country
in a style that would come to be known as German Expressionism, most
notably the psychological crime thriller M and the silent classic
Metropolis. Heavy on mood and featuring fantastical elements and
strategic use of light and shadow, the genre would go on to heavily
influence the American movies in the film noir genre. As the Nazi party
came to power in the 1930s and began to threaten freedom of expression,
Lang fled Germany for the United States. It only makes sense he went on
to direct some of the best films of the noir genre.
Scarlet Street tells the story of an Everyman character named
Christopher Cross (clever, eh?), a bank cashier played by Edward G.
Robinson who is as loyal as he is timid. His wife is emotionally
abusive and mocks his one creative outlet, his painting, which is
amateur in every sense of the word but brings solace to his emotionally
restrictive life. When he meets Kitty, a young woman who flirts with
Chris and makes him feel alive again, he falls for her. He should know
better though, because this is a film noir and Kitty is the ultimate
femme fatale. Hearts are broken, reputations are ruined, and lessons
are learned too late in this stylish and clever film.
Please make plans to join us on Thursday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m. as
we screen Scarlet Street. Coffee, soft drinks, candy, and popcorn will
be available free of charge, and David Nilsen will be leading a brief
discussion after the film. We look forward to seeing you there.
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