East Side, West Side (1949 film)

East Side, West Side is a 1949 American melodramatic crime film, starring Barbara Stanwyck as a wronged wife and Ava Gardner in one of her early roles, along with James Mason and Van Heflin. Based on a novel by Marcia Davenport and a screenplay by Isobel Lennart, the film was produced by Voldemar Vetluguin, directed by Mervyn LeRoy and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

East Side, West Side
Theatrical Film Poster
Directed byMervyn LeRoy
Produced byVoldemar Vetluguin
Written byMarcia Davenport (novel)
Isobel Lennart
StarringBarbara Stanwyck
James Mason
Van Heflin
Ava Gardner
Music byMiklós Rózsa
CinematographyCharles Rosher
Edited byHarold F. Kress
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
December 22, 1949
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,754,000[1]
Box office$2,540,000[1]

Plot

Just after World War II, socialite Jessie Bourne is home alone one night in her Gramercy Park apartment on New York's East Side when she receives a mysterious phone call that hangs up. Her wealthy playboy husband Brandon is out, enjoying himself at the Del Rio night club. At the night club, young model Rosa Senta admonishes Brandon for going out alone, as Rosa admires Jessie, who has been a customer at the dress salon where Rosa works. Brandon tries to mollify Rosa, but he is cut short when Brandon's former mistress, gold-digging Isabel Lorrison, arrives. She has returned from Paris intent on rekindling her romance with Brandon, but he rebuffs her, professing faithfulness to his wife. An argument ensues in which Isabel's date, wealthy Alec Dawning, knowing Brandon's reputation, knocks him unconscious. Brandon is rescued by Rosa, who takes him to her home to recover.

Brandon eventually returns home in the wee hours to find Jessie waiting up. He tells her that he was working late, stopped for a drink, was knocked out by a drunk, and then rescued by Rosa. He also explains how Rosa knows her. The next morning, Jessie's friend, Helen Lee, calls on her, presumably to remind her of the Lees' party that night for an intelligence officer and ex-NYPD cop, Mark Dwyer, returning to the U.S. from post-war service in Italy. Both women have seen the morning newspaper in which the nightclub brawl is front-page news. After much prodding, Jessie confesses to Helen that she is afraid of what will happen to her marriage with Isabel back in town. Jessie says she intends to live her life normally, including going shopping. She decides to go to the dress salon where Rosa works to hear for herself what transpired at the club. Once there, Jessie takes Rosa aside to thank her for rescuing Brandon. Rosa confirms Brandon's story, which is a relief to Jessie. As thanks, Jessie offers to take Rosa to LaGuardia Airport to pick up Mark Dwyer, on whom Rosa has had a long-standing crush.

As he is leaving his office for Helen's party, Brandon is visited by Isabel, who manages to entice him to her apartment. Jessie goes to the Lees’ party alone when Brandon is a no-show and becomes better acquainted with Mark. Mark explains the crush Rosa has on him and that she would have gotten over it long ago except that he was overseas. Jessie finds out that Brandon is with Isabel and begins to leave the party; Mark, tired of being celebrated throughout the day for his return to the States, and falling hard for Jessie, offers to escort her home. They talk, and he remains with her until Brandon returns. After Mark leaves, and although they argue viciously, Brandon convinces Jessie of his love. They make up, and he proposes a trip to Virginia.

The next day, while explaining to Rosa that they can't be in a relationship, and that he's interested in Jessie, Mark spots Alec with an imposing, frosty blonde on his arm. So, although Isabel is being kept by Alec, he is not faithful to her.

As she prepares to go out with Mark for a drive, Jessie is telephoned by Isabel, who asks her for a meeting at her apartment in Greenwich Village on the West Side. Mark unwittingly drives Jessie there, and while doing so, admits his attraction to her, but he is resigned to her trying to save her marriage. During the showdown at the apartment, Jessie refuses to back down even after Isabel gloats that, if she calls, Brandon “will come running.” Mark takes Jessie home where she is given a message to call Brandon—at Isabel's apartment. Suspecting she has been duped by her husband, Jessie calls. Brandon answers, telling her that he found Isabel murdered and that he has summoned the police.

Before Jessie and Mark go to the apartment, Mark discovers he had just delivered Jessie there earlier. A friend of Mark's, Lt. Jake Jacobi, is in charge of the crime scene. There, Mark introduces Jessie to Jake, and they are admitted to the apartment. While Jake questions Brandon and Jessie, Mark finds a woman's broken fingernail next to the body. After confirming the nail is not Jessie's or Isabel's, and mindful of all he has seen since his return, Mark asks Jake to let him do a little detecting. While Jake takes Brandon 'downtown' for further questioning, Jessie is allowed to go home. Mark heads to Alec's private party at the Del Rio club. Using a ruse, he determines that Alec's jealous girlfriend, Felice Backett, the frosty blonde, committed the murder. Mark takes her to the police station, and Brandon is released. Brandon returns to Jessie in their high-rise apartment, but she finally realizes that she no longer loves him and leaves. Brandon ponders what will happen next as he looks out over New York City.

Cast

Reception

According to MGM records, the film earned $1,518,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $1,022,000 overseas resulting in a small profit to the studio of $31,000.[1][2]

See also

References
  1. The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. "Top Grosses of 1950". Variety. January 3, 1951. p. 58.
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