Scarlet Street

The St. Augustine Film Society is proud to announce our Summer Throwback Cinema at The Limelight with the Edward G. Robinson classic "Scarlet Street". This film noir, directed by Fritz Lang, involves an unhappily married clerk with some artistic talent who, through a bizarre set of circumstances, befriends a gorgeous woman of the evening. The film touches on themes depicted in "Anora", Pretty Woman", and "Klute" but in the style of 1945 filmmaking.

The film was banned in New York, Milwaukee, and Atlanta upon its release for being licentious, profane, and contrary to the good order of the community but a modern viewer would be hard pressed to find anything objectionable especially in light of the previously named films of that genre. "Scarlet Street" is actually a remake of the 1931 French film "La Chienne" by Jean Renoir which was based on the novel of the same name by Georges de La Fouchardiere.

The film's critical reputation has grown over time, and it is now regarded as a quintessential example of film noir and one of Fritz Lang's most accomplished American works.