The Big Street

Watch The Big Street

"Damon Runyon's first real love story!"
  • Passed
  • 1942
  • 1 hr 28 min
  • 6.4  (1,632)

The Big Street is a heartwarming romantic drama film that was released in 1942. Directed by Irving Reis and produced by Damon Runyon, the movie features a star-studded cast including Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball, and Barton MacLane. The movie starts with a bang, as we meet Little Pinks, the lead character played by Henry Fonda. Little Pinks is a busboy in a restaurant and is hopelessly in love with Gloria Lyons (played by Lucille Ball), a beautiful and famous nightclub singer. Gloria is not interested in Little Pinks and has often played with his feelings, which has broken his heart.

One night, after leaving a nightclub, Gloria is hit by a car and is injured. Little Pinks, who saw the accident, rescues her and takes her to a nearby apartment. Unbeknownst to Little Pinks, Gloria has lost her memory due to the accident and doesn't remember who he is. Despite this, Little Pinks takes it upon himself to care for and protect Gloria, hoping that she will one day regain her memory and fall in love with him.

Little Pinks is not rich, but he decides to spend all his savings on Gloria's recovery. He begins to work odd jobs to make ends meet so that he can continue paying for her medical bills. He even sells his beloved dog to a scientific laboratory to raise some extra cash. However, the medical treatments fail, and Gloria remains unable to remember her former life.

Throughout the movie, we get to see a different side of Lucille Ball, who plays the role of Gloria Lyons. Gloria is the glamorous and successful nightclub singer who is used to being adored and pampered. However, after her accident, she loses all her memories and becomes very vulnerable. She starts to rely on Little Pinks for everything, and they develop a close bond as he becomes her protector and caregiver.

One of the key antagonists in the movie is Violette Shumberger (played by Agnes Moorehead). She is Gloria's old best friend and the one who hit her with her car. Violette is depicted as a self-centered and greedy woman who only cares about her own needs. She tries to worm her way back into Gloria's life after learning of the accident, but Gloria's amnesia prevents her from recognizing Violette.

Throughout the movie, we see a different side of the glamorous socialite Violette. Her character is manipulative, and she's always up to something shady. She employs a series of tricks and lies to try to get back into Gloria's life and caters to the injured woman's every need. However, despite all her manipulations, Violette is exposed by Little Pinks, further solidifying his love for Gloria.

The other supporting actors such as Agnes Moorehead, Barton MacLane, and Eugene Pallette all play pivotal roles and provide some much-needed comic relief to what is often a tense and emotional movie.

Overall, The Big Street is a touching and emotional movie about love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball shine in their respective roles, and the supporting cast does an excellent job of keeping the film entertaining. The Big Street is a must-watch for fans of classic Hollywood cinema and any movie viewer looking for a film with a great emotional core.

The Big Street is a 1942 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.

The Big Street
Description
Where to Watch The Big Street
The Big Street is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube VOD and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent The Big Street for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1942
  • MPAA Rating
    Passed
  • Runtime
    1 hr 28 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    6.4  (1,632)