Scarlet Street (1945)

Chris Cross is a mousy, but trusted bank teller married to a relentless nag. His only joy is the painting he does on weekends - until he accidentally meets beautiful "Kitty". Her boyfriend Johnny convinces her to take him for everything he's got when they mistakenly believe that he is a rich and successful artist. In order to keep her in the style to which she is rapidly becoming accustomed he has to come up with ways to put his hands on ever larger amounts of money. But no matter what he does, it's not enough for Kitty and Johnny, who keep pushing until even they are in over their heads.

A lot of Fritz Lang's American oeuvre is concentrated on the American justice system and various other crime related things, and this one is no different. Scarlet Street professes that nobody can ever 'get away with murder', and the fantastic climax to the movie shows this masterfully; much more so than many other films that have tried to convey the same message have. Scarlet Street is drenched with irony throughout (ironically, it took a non-American to make an ironic American film). This irony ensures that the film stays interesting, as the audience is never able to guess what's around the corner. Scarlet Street is another Fritz Lang masterpiece. While not as mind blowing as Metropolis or as powerful as M; Scarlet Street fills a niche all of it's own. I rate this film as a 'must see', and I can almost guarantee that you will not be disappointed after seeing it. - The_Void

Director: Fritz Lang
Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Dan Duryea