With some casting changes, this could have been a satisfying and interesting movie. Ray Collins, Sam Levene, Agnes Moorehead and Eugene Pallette all perform very well; in fact, they carry the film. Fonda is decent, but never projects any motive for his loyalty and infatuation for the Ball character. Ball does a fairly good job portraying the nasty side of her character, but everything else falls flat; she projects no warmth or style as an orchestra singer, and is not credible as the back stage gold digger. Had Lorraine Day gotten this part, this could have been a very good movie. Ball got it, and really dragged it down.
Review of The Big Street
