Movies
Big Street, The (RKO 1942, Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball)
Damon Runyon’s Times Square world of con men and hustlers populate the background in tragicomic romance The Big Street, produced by Runyon himself. Unusual roles for Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball as an innocent busboy named Little Pinks and Gloria, a glamorous nightclub singer. Hard-as-nails and dollar-wise, Gloria spurns the smitten busboy, but when an accident confines her to a wheelchair, Gloria is forced to turn to Little Pinks for help.
The credo of Lucille Ball’s character is, ‘A girl’s best friend is a dollar.
production details
USA | RKO | 88 minutes | 1942
Director: Irving Reis
Script: Leonard Spigelgass, Damon Runyon, Mort Greene,
cast
Louise Beavers as Ruby – Gloria’s Maid (uncredited)
Agnes Moorehead as Violette Shumberg
George Cleveland as Colonel Samuel Venus
Marie Windsor as Florida Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Hans Conried as Louie – Headwaiter (uncredited)
Sam Levene as Horsethief
Ray Collins as Professor B
Lucille Ball as Gloria Lyons
Marion Martin as Mimi Venus
Henry Fonda as Agustus ‘Little Pinks’ Pinkerton, II
Barton MacLane as Case Ables
Eugene Pallette as Nicely Nicely Johnson
William T. Orr as Decatur Reed (as William Orr)
Vera Gordon as Mrs. Lefkowitz
Ozzie Nelson as Orchestra leader
Ozzie Nelson and Orchestra as Night Club Orchestra
Bess Flowers as Florida Nightclub Patron (uncredited)