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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh! Just kill me now!, August 14, 2002
A heart-wrenching, crushingly tender tragicomedy, showing an intimate portrait of the lives of England's professional buskers, or street performers, who were on the run in the face of the modern entertainment industry. Vivian Leigh, Rex Harrison and Charles Laughton star in this powerful film, which demolishes the pollyanna-ish conventions of the American-style, Busby Berkeley-Harry Warren musicals. Laughton steals the show as Charlie, the leader of a struggling busking troupe, in a heartbreaking performance that paves the way for his famous turn as the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Beautifully shot, but also with a dynamic and well-written script, this film doesn't have a weak moment in it. I'd never heard of it before; now it's one of my favorite films.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Buskers, November 22, 2008
KINO markets "Sidewalks of London" under its alternate title, ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
The title is the address of Charles Staggers (Laughton), who is one of a dying breed-- a busker. These street performers were a common sight in London in the early 20th Century. For coppers and shillings, they'd "work" a crowd waiting in line outside a legitimate theater. Dancers, musicians, comedians, tumblers, singers and orators all plied their wares then passed the hat around.
Liberty (Leigh) picks pockets when she's not dancing for coin. After he sees her dance, Charles asks Libby to be his busking partner. They later form a quartet with two musicians. Songwriter Prentiss gives the talented Libby a foot up onto the legitimate stage; she eventually becomes a star. (Also outstanding here is virtuoso harmonicanist Larry Adler, who plays both on-screen and off.)
ST. MARTIN'S LANE may be found on a KINO DVD double feature with WING OF THE MORNING (1940), starring Henry Fonda.
Also available from KINO is the British classic, SOUTH RIDING (1938), with Edna Best, Ralph Richardson and Edmund Gwenn. (VHS only)
Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.
(7.0) St. Martin's Lane ("Sidewalks of London") (UK-1938) - Charles Laughton/Vivien Leigh/Rex Harrison/Larry Adler/Tyrone Guthrie/Maire O'Neill/Gus McNaughton
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3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sidewalks of London, January 20, 2003
By A Customer
Vivien Leigh was in this movie right before GONE WITH THE WIND!!!!!!!! But this movie is about a homeless girl who is named Liberty <nicknamed Libby>, who then a big man <charles laughton> meets Libby and takes her under his wing and gives her a home, and a job in his street performing group. But then abother man <Rex Harrison> meets Libby, and makes her a star and super famous and wealthy. But Libby wants Charles Laughton.
This movie is not a MUST SEE but it is rather good. The scenes without Vivien are kind of slow moving and dull, and the movie has the worst ending. The absoulute worst ending in a movie. She runs after Charles Laughton, and then he goes to his crew and starts a poem. Leaving Libby back to the thearter. IF YOU LIKE VIVIEN LEIGH, I'D RECCOMEND YOU SEE THIS FILM
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