PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

cnycitylady The Big Street is one of the few films that cast Lucille Ball as the leading lady. She had an iffy relationship with films before fame found her with "I Love Lucy" and watching this film I can see why. She has this sparkle and this charm, but for some reason her power is not charged to 100%. She plays the gangsters moll very well, and you can easily see her fitting the part of the villain's-girl-with-a-heart-of-gold, but that isn't who she is here. She's just snarky and beneath everyone.She is lovely to look at and she does attempt to encapsulate and encompass herself in the character, but it doesn't work. I unfortunately believe that Ball is more of a character actress than a leading lady. She steals the show as the Best Friend or wacky neighbor, but in the spotlight her sparkling light fails to shine through. The script is also promising, but the last forty five minutes or so derail the story and you're wondering what went wrong. Henry Fonda is horribly cast and isn't very believable as the gullible chump who is infatuated with Ball's character. He's gaunt and sallow and looks far too menacing to be the good guy. This movie sounded promising, and you will watch it eagerly for the cast and premise but it will only let you down. This is a prime example of mediocrity during the Golden Age of film, and will prove the point that not all "old movies" are "classics". 5.7/10

atlasmb Lucille Ball plays a callous chorine named Gloria Lyons who is undeservedly adored by a busboy named "Little Pinks" Pinkerton (Henry Fonda). She treats him--and most other people--like dirt, but he is willing to take abuse from the woman he worships.When Gloria faces adversity, Pinks is there to see her through it, but she remains a resolute bitch. Ball never acted better than in this role. Fonda portrays a favorite from his repertoire--the earnest man.Adapted from a story by Damon Runyon, the film is populated in part by those from the other side of the (race)track. Another reviewer implied that few would be familiar with the patois of Runyan, but any of the millions upon millions who have seen "Guys and Dolls" are already infinitely familiar with his peculiar but lovable vernacular. How does it all end? Will Pinks finally grow tired of his unappreciative goddess? Will he finally get the girl then regret it? I won't say. But it ends rather nicely nicely.

jimmyburrell I have always been thrilled to see Lucille Ball in the old Hollywood movies in which she starred many years before her stardom in the sitcom "I Love Lucy". She held the grace of the top stars at the time and I can certainly understand why Desi Arnaz fell madly in love with her after seeing this film. I sincerely believe that if you have never seen "The Big Street" then you have not seen Lucille Ball at her best. She was an incredibly talented Hollywood movie actress and I only regret that I hadn't discovered that sooner. This movie made me want to collect all of Lucy's old movies because this one was a real surprise for me! I loved Lucy before, but now I respect and appreciate her even more for being a survivor and holding her own among the likes of Grace Kelly and Greta Garbo. Lucy certainly was a bombshell in her day! See this movie and you will understand why. It will win over even the toughest critic.

malvernp "The Big Street" is an appropriately obscure film that is probably remembered today (if at all) as the dramatic breakthrough that moved Lucille Ball's career to its next level. As for co-star Henry Fonda, this film presented him in the most unlikely of roles------as a "door mat" cipher-like character to Lucille Ball's thoroughly unpleasant night club singer.This movie has a great supporting cast-----and Damon Runyon could write stories that were often enjoyable. There is no question that Fonda has been likable and interesting in a wimpy-type role ("The Lady Eve") or that Lucille Ball could be appealing when playing a character with an edge to her ("Stage Door").But it is tough to follow two lead characters----the Fonda guy who is really a human punching bag with zero self-esteem----and the Ball singer who is consistently mean, nasty, cruel and almost sadistic in her indifference to kindness and decency----and expect us to become engaged by them in a story that doesn't change who or what they are until almost the very end.This kind of set up can on a rare occasion result in a good movie ("Of Human Bondage" or "Midnight Cowboy") but more often than not, the film becomes a real pain to watch ("The Mountain").Ball thought she did her best screen work here---and she may be right. A root canal procedure can be seen as a work of art to those who appreciate the complexities of dentistry----but that doesn't make it any more palatable to the patient.For those looking for a sado-masochistic main stream film involving top drawer performers, this one's for you. All others-----beware!