NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Warner Archive Blu-ray (September 2025): Warner Archive have transferred Anthony Mann's Side Street to Blu-ray. It is a notable step (brighter, finer grain, more layered contrast etc.) above Warner's 2007 DVD, reviewed HERE, as part of their Film Noir Classic Collection (5-discs/10 films), Vol. 4. This film represents Mann's fifth and final collaboration with cinematographer Joseph Ruttenberg (Cause for Alarm!, Gaslight, Mrs. Miniver, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Philadelphia Story, Waterloo Bridge,) whose work here anticipates the visual dynamism of Mann's later masterpieces like "Winchester '73". Though not as visually audacious as Mann's earlier "Desperate" (1947), "Side Street" employs chiaroscuro lighting and shadowy interiors to mirror Joe's moral descent, with the city's architecture symbolizing the inescapable grid of fate. Fine textures in clothing, facial features, and urban environments shine in 1080P, supported by deep blacks, stable whites, and a natural film grain that avoids any artificial sharpening or processing artifacts like posterization or macro blocking. While some outdoor sequences exhibit inherent softness due to variable lighting conditions and occasional inferior source material, the overall image quality is sharp and immersive, particularly in interior scenes and dramatic painterly lighting, marking a significant upgrade from prior standard-definition version and pushing the boundaries of what a classic noir can achieve on Blu-ray.

NOTE: We have added 54 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Warner Archive use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It faithfully reproduces the original mono source with impressive fidelity, tonal depth, and clarity that enhances the film's urban atmosphere and suspenseful narrative. Dialogue remains crisp and intelligible throughout, while Lennie Hayton's (Grand Central Murder, Battleground, The Thin Man Goes Home) score swells effectively to underscore tension, and sound effects like blaring sirens, screeching tires, and bustling city noises add width and immersion without distortion or sync issues. Minimal age-related hiss is present in quieter moments to preserve dynamic range, but the mix is clean overall. Warner Archive offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The extras package on the Warner Archive Blu-ray of Side Street is robust for a catalog title, starting with an informative audio commentary by film historian Richard Schickel (The Men Who Made the Movies,) who delves into the production, Anthony Mann's directorial style, noir elements, and the careers of stars Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell. A 6 minute, 2007, featurette, "Side Street: Where Temptation Lurks" (available on the older DVD), explores the film's themes of temptation, postwar struggles, New York locations, and performances, featuring insights from Schickel Patricia King Hanson (Becoming AFI: 50 Years Inside the American Film Institute,) Christopher Coppola, and Oliver Stone. Additional bonuses include the 1947 MGM "Crime Does Not Pay" short directed by Joseph M. Newman (Twenty Plus Two, Death in Small Doses, The Gunfight at Dodge City, This Island Earth, Dangerous Crossing, 711 Ocean Drive,), "The Luckiest Guy in the World" running over 20 minutes - it is a noirish tale of a gambler's desperation starring Barry Nelson, Eloise Hardt, and George Travell. There are two classic 7 minute cartoons in HD - "Polka Dot Puss", a Tom and Jerry escapade, and "Goggle Fishing Bear", featuring Barney Bear's underwater antics, both remastered with some minor print damage; and the original theatrical trailer offering a promotional glimpse into the film's suspenseful plot.

Anthony Mann's Side Street stands as a pivotal entry in the director's early filmography, marking the culmination of his noir period before his transition to the Western genre. Produced by MGM on a modest budget, "Side Street" reunites Farley Granger (Amuck, Rope, Edge of Doom, Senso, Strangers on a Train, So Sweet So Dead,) and Cathy O'Donnell (Terror in the Haunted House, Eight O'Clock Walk, Bury Me Dead, The Amazing Mr. X, Detective Story, The Man from Laramie, The Best Years of Our Lives,) from Nicholas Ray's "They Live by Night" (1948), but shifts the tone from romantic tragedy to urban thriller, showcasing Mann's evolving interest in morally compromised protagonists trapped by circumstance. Mann infuses the narrative with moral ambiguity, refusing to paint Joe as a villain; instead, he is an everyman whose single mistake unleashes a chain of events, forcing viewers to empathize with his plight even as he evades justice. This empathetic approach to venality and violence sets "Side Street" apart from more cynical noirs, emphasizing redemption and human fallibility over fatalism. At its core, "Side Street" delves into themes of postwar disillusionment, portraying a society where the American Dream has curdled into desperation for returning veterans like Joe, who struggles with menial jobs after serving in World War II. Joe's theft is not born of inherent criminality but from societal pressures - unemployment, inflation, and the burden of impending fatherhood - highlighting the fragility of middle-class aspirations in a booming yet unforgiving urban landscape. Overall, the Warner Archive Blu-ray release of Side Street stands as a commendable restoration of Anthony Mann's underrated film noir, delivering top-tier video and audio quality that revitalizes its gritty urban visuals and atmospheric soundscape, making it essential for genre enthusiasts and collectors earning it a solid recommendation.

Gary Tooze