Film Snail

6.1

Back Street

NR·1932·93m

Drama

Romance

Drama

Romance

Summary

A woman's love for and devotion to a married man results in her being relegated to the "back streets" of his life.

Cast

Irene Dunne

Ray Schmidt

John Boles

Walter D. Saxel

George Meeker

Kurt Shendler

Zasu Pitts

Mrs. Dole

June Clyde

Freda Schmidt

William Bakewell

Richard Saxel

Arletta Duncan

Beth Saxel

Doris Lloyd

Corinne Saxel

Paul Weigel

Adolph Schmidt

Jane Darwell

Mrs. Adolph Schmidt

Shirley Grey

Francine

James Donlan

Profhero

Walter Catlett

Bakeless

Robert McWade

Uncle Felix

Gloria Stuart

Young Woman (uncredited)

Betty Blythe

Gossip (uncredited)

Symona Boniface

Lady at Casino (uncredited)

Bob Burns

Horsecar Driver (uncredited)

Jack Chefe

Casino Onlooker (uncredited)

Rose Dione

Minor Role (uncredited)

Jim Farley

Horsecar Conductor (uncredited)

James Flavin

Reporter (uncredited)

Maude Turner Gordon

Mrs. Saxel (uncredited)

Mahlon Hamilton

Minor Role (uncredited)

Grace Hayle

Lady in Street (uncredited)

Russell Hopton

Reporter (uncredited)

Beulah Hutton

Minor Role (uncredited)

Tom Karrigan

Minor Role (uncredited)

Caryl Lincoln

Minor Role (uncredited)

Gene Morgan

Reporter (uncredited)

Virginia Pearson

Minor Role (uncredited)

Rosalie Roy

Minor Role (uncredited)

Rolfe Sedan

Croupier (uncredited)

Suzanne Wood

Minor Role (uncredited)

Crew

Director

John M. Stahl

Novel

Fannie Hurst

Screenplay

Gladys Lehman

Screenplay

Lynn Starling

Writer

Ben Hecht

Writer

Gene Fowler

Reviews

Geronimo1967

June 13, 2022

Irene Dunne ("Rae") gives a strong performance here as a woman who sacrifices her first love so she can help her step-sister. Many years later, she encounters the successful, married "Walter Saxel" (John Boles) again and they embark on an affair. The plot is simple, and probably rather racy for the early 1930s, but the two stars with some help from Zasu Pitts create a character-driven romantic drama with a sense of kindness and affection belied in the rather poor title. Maybe a touch too long, the story certainly takes a bit too long to get up a head of steam, but it's well worth a watch if you get a chance.