Where The Sidewalk Ends (1950)
Directed by Otto Preminger, Where the Sidewalk Ends is a brooding, psychologically rich film noir starring Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. It’s a spiritual successor to Laura (1944), reuniting the same director and stars—but trading high society for the gritty underbelly of New York’s criminal world. The film explores themes of police brutality, moral compromise, and redemption, all wrapped in shadowy cinematography and taut suspense.
Plot Summary
Detective Sgt. Mark Dixon (Dana Andrews) is a tough cop with a chip on his shoulder—his father was a gangster, and Dixon is determined to prove he’s nothing like him. But his violent temper gets the better of him when he accidentally kills a suspect during an interrogation. Rather than report the incident, Dixon tries to cover it up, framing a local gangster named Tommy Scalise (Gary Merrill).
Complications arise when Dixon falls for Morgan Taylor (Gene Tierney), the estranged wife of the man he killed. As guilt mounts and the investigation tightens, Dixon must choose between protecting himself and doing what’s right—even if it means destroying the life he’s built.
Cast Highlights
- Dana Andrews as Mark Dixon
- Gene Tierney as Morgan Taylor
- Gary Merrill as Tommy Scalise
- Karl Malden as Lt. Thomas
- Bert Freed and Craig Stevens in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- This was the only feature film appearance of famed fashion designer Oleg Cassini, who was married to Gene Tierney at the time. He reportedly convinced Preminger to cast him
- Tommy Scalise was originally written as a drug addict, but the Production Code prohibited any mention of narcotics
- The film belongs to a subgenre of noir focused on police brutality and internal conflict, similar to Detective Story (1951)
- Andrews’s portrayal of Dixon is notable for its emotional restraint—he’s a man haunted by his own impulses, yet never loses his intelligence or dignity
