After the enormous success Universal had with Douglas Sirk-directed melodramas in the 1950s, they continued trying to repeat that success into the '60s. "Back Street" is one such sudser. Susan Hayward and John Gavin fall in love, but fate intervenes over the years keeping them apart. Enter Vera Miles as Gavin's psycho, alcohol-fueled wife who refuses to give him a divorce and you've got pure, unadulterated melodrama. Hayward is okay, and Gavin looks really good, but it's Miles who gives the performance of this movie. She's outrageous and evil and provides the film with all the energy it needs. This movie, while good, tends to be quite implausible, though, and is really missing Sirk's expert direction. But those of us who just love sudsers don't mind.
Review of Back Street
