Scarlet Street

thumb|Edward G. Robinson as Christopher Cross and Joan Bennett as Katharine 'Kitty' March thumb|Joan Bennett as Katharine 'Kitty' March thumb|Paint me, Chris!... They'll be masterpieces. Scarlet Street is a 1945 American film noir about a man in mid-life crisis who befriends a young woman who is then persuaded by her venal fiancé into conning him out of a fortune she mistakenly thinks he has. Directed by Fritz Lang. Written by Dudley Nichols. The GREAT STARS and DIRECTOR of "Woman in the Window" Kitty March If he were mean or vicious or if he'd bawl me out or something, I'd like him better. Well, I was going to do this myself, but, uh... [hands him toenail polish] Paint me, Chris!... They'll be masterpieces. How can a man be so dumb...I wanted to laugh in your face ever since the moment I met you. You're old, ugly and I'm sick of you. Sick, sick, sick! Johnny Prince Can't you get those Lazy Legs off that couch, baby? [upon entering a strange house for the first time] Where's the bedroom? Other Reporter on Train: [referring to being executed] I'd rather have a judge give me the works than to have to do it to myself. Dialogue Johnny Prince: And then you gave me a dirty look. Kitty March: I didn't give you a dirty look! Johnny Prince: Listen, any girl that waits two hours in the rain for a guy is gonna give him a dirty look. Kitty March: Who do you think you are? My guardian angel? Millie Ray: Not me, honey. I lost those wings a long time ago. Adele Cross: Next thing you'll be painting women without clothes. Christopher Cross: I never saw a woman without any clothes. Adele Cross: I should hope not! Johnny Prince: Lazy Legs. [kisses her] I don't know what you told Janeway, but you got him eatin' right out of your hand. Kitty March: It won't stop with lunch! Christopher Cross: Hey, did you read this? Adele Cross: Read what? Christopher Cross: This murder in Queens. A man killed his wife with the window weight, put her body in the trunk, shipped her to California. It says here... Adele Cross: I've read the paper, thank you. He didn't get away with it, did he? He'll go to the chair, as he should. Christopher Cross: Yeah, a man hasn't got a chance with these New York detectives. Kitty March: You know those art galleries on Fifth Avenue? The prices they charge! I saw one little picture that cost fifty-thousand dollars. They call it, uh, 'Seezan'. Christopher Cross: Cezanne? Oh, he was a great French painter. I'd like to own that painting. Kitty March: You would? For fifty-thousand dollars? Christopher Cross: You can't put any price on masterpieces like that. They're worth, well, whatever you can afford to pay for them. Kitty March: You know what, Chris? I bet I saw some of your pictures there and didn't know it. Next time I'll look for your name. Christopher Cross: Oh no no no no no. I, uh... I don't sell my pictures. Kitty March: Well not in New York you mean. Christopher Cross: No, I-... Kitty March: I know. I bet your sell your pictures in Europe, France or someplace like that. I don't know much about painting, but I bet your get as much for your pictures in France as those Frenchman get right here in New York. You're never appreciated in your own country. Christopher Cross: Well that's one way of looking at it. But you know when I paint, I don't think of money. I just paint for fun. Kitty March: Fun? Christopher Cross: Yes. I think it's the most fun I know, painting. I wish I had all the time to paint. Kitty March: But don't you have time? Christopher Cross: [stammering] Well you know... business takes a lot of time. Kitty March: I wonder when you get all that money. Kitty March: How long does it take you to paint a picture? Christopher Cross: Sometimes a day, sometimes a year. You can't tell. It has to grow. Kitty March: I never knew paint could grow. Christopher Cross: Feeling grows. You know, that's the important thing, feeling. You take me. No one ever taught me how to draw, so I just put a line around what I feel when I look at things. Kitty March: Yeah I see. Christopher Cross: It's like falling in love I guess. You know... first you see someone, then it keeps growing, until you can't think of anyone else. Kitty March: That's interesting. Christopher Cross: The way I think of things, that all art is. Every painting, if it's any good, is a love affair. Kitty March: I never heard anyone talk like that before. Christopher Cross: There aren't many people you can talk to this way. So you keep it to yourself. You walk around with everything bottled up. Kitty March: Johnny. Oh, Johnny. Johnny Prince: Crazy Legs. Kitty March: Jeepers, I love you Johnny. Cast Edward G. Robinson — Christopher Cross Joan Bennett — Katharine 'Kitty' March Dan Duryea — Johnny Prince Margaret Lindsay — Millie Ray Jess Barker — David Janeway Rosalind Ivan — Adele Cross Arthur Loft — Dellarowe Charles Kemper — Patch-eye Higgins Russell Hicks — J.J. Hogarth Samuel S. Hinds — Charles Pringle Anita Sharp-Bolster — Mrs. Michaels Vladimir Sokoloff — Pop LeJon Cy Kendall — Nick External links 0038057 Scarlet Street scarlet_street Scarlet Street Category:1945 American films Category:American crime drama films Category:Film noir Category:American mystery films Category:American remake films Category:Films directed by Fritz Lang Category:Censored films Category:1945 English-language films Category:Films based on French novels Category:Films set in New York City