Histoire d'un amour (1961)

Back Street is a 1961 film made by Universal Pictures, directed by David Miller, and produced by Ross Hunter. The screenplay was written by William Ludwig and Eleanore Griffin based on the novel by Fannie Hurst. The music score is by Frank Skinner. The film stars Susan Hayward, John Gavin and Vera Miles.

The story follows two lovers who have limited opportunities to get together because one of them is married.

Hedda Hopper claims Hunter was considering Gregory Peck and William Holden for the lead until she suggested John Gavin.

It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color (Jean Louis). Unlike the previous film versions, this one gives Susan Hayward plenty of opportunity to appear in Jean Louis's spectacular gowns. This was a trademark of Ross Hunter's remakes of older "weepies"; he employed the same method in Lana Turner's versions of Imitation of Life and Madame X.

Of all three screen versions of Back Street, this 1961 production took the most dramatic license with the novel. It is different from both the 1932 and 1941 screen versions in many ways - changing the names of several characters and updating the story to what was then the present day. Good examples of how the plotline was sensationalized in this third version are the attempted suicide and the fatal car crash.

Synopsis

Paul Saxon, riche héritier d'une chaîne de magasins, rencontre Rae Smith à son retour de guerre. Attendant un avion pour New York, ils passent une journée ensemble et tombent mutuellement amoureux. Rae rate l'avion, et découvre par la suite que Paul est marié. Rae décide de tenter sa chance à New York et trouve du travail auprès du fameux styliste Dalian. Elle rencontre Paul par hasard et ils se rendent compte qu'ils sont encore amoureux l'un de l'autre. Ne voulant pas devenir sa maîtresse cachée, Rae décide alors de fuir et de poursuivre sa carrière à Rome.

Acteurs