Where the Sidewalk Ends: Otto Preminger creates a solid, if unspectacular, film; the story is seedy, gritty, and more interesting for it, in spite of its apparent straightforwardness. Ben Hecht’s screenplay puts dry, realistic dialogue in the mouths of realistic and complex characters. The cast plays it very subtly; Dana Andrews is superb and Gene Tierney is alluring without being glamorous. Joseph LaShelle’s images (he completes the reunion from an earlier, and much different, masterpiece) are simple and effective, without distracting mannerisms.