
The Melbourne Cinémathèque & ACMI present
Back Street
When
Wed 3 Dec 2025
See below for additional related events
Marking the first adaptation of Fannie Hurst’s popular 1931 novel of the same name, Stahl’s film is a strikingly realistic glimpse into what life was like for many women during the Great Depression.
Featuring remarkably restrained performances from its two leads, Stahl regulars Irene Dunne and John Boles, the film is a tragic tale of doomed love and feminine masochism that eschews emotional melodrama in favour of a more objective gaze, an approach largely uncommon at the time and still deeply affecting to this day. With ZaSu Pitts and Jane Darwell.
About Melbourne Cinémathèque
Australia's longest-running film society, Melbourne Cinémathèque screens significant works of international cinema in the medium they were created, the way they would have originally screened.
Melbourne Cinémathèque is self-administered, volunteer-run, not-for-profit and membership-driven.
