The fascinating notion of a family of pick-pockets during WW II,headed by a female 'Ma',is explored in this strange movie.When the older daughter's husband gets out of prison he commits an armed robbery ending in murder,which brings the police down on the family.'Ma' has two daughters and a son involved in "patty rolling"[pick-pocketing & stealing watches from servicemen].Too straight forward to be a Film Noir,it nevertheless has aspects of the style,especially the photography of the night streets & dance halls.It also has "Noir Icons" Audrey Totter & Dan Duryea in it.Hume Cronyn is very good as a smarmy "Fence".Edward Arnold is the chief detective who eventually brings down the family.The son[Duryea] is killed,and the women and son in law are shown in prison.Arnold ends the film with a pseudo sociological speech on crime.This period piece/oddity is well worth the hour it takes to watch it.If it were more well known it has enough idiosyncrasies to make it a cult film.
Review of Main Street After Dark
