at first glance and it would seem natural to compare where the sidewalk end with laura . both have noirish quality and both be direct by otto preminger and and both star dana andrew and gene tierney . but that where most of the comparison end . laura dealt with posh and sophisticated people with mean who just happen to find themselves mixed up in a murder . where the sidewalk end be set in a completely different stratum . these be people with barely two nickel to rub together who be more accustomed to see the underbelly of society than go to fancy dress party . where the sidewalk end be a gritty film fill with desperate people who solve their problem with their fist or some other weapon . small time hood be a dime a dozen and cop routinely beat confession out of the crook . get catch up in a murder investigation seem as natural a breathing . while i haven not see his entire body of work and base on what i have see and dana andrew give one of his best performance a the beat down cop and det . sgt . mark dixon . he the kind of cop who be use to rough up the local hood if it get him information or a confession . one night and he go too far and accidentally kill a man . he do his best to cover it up . but thing get complicate when he fall for the dead man wife and morgan taylor ( tierney ) and whose father become suspect number one in the murder case . a morgan father mean the world to her and dixon get to do what he can to clear the old man without implicate himself . technically and where the sidewalk end be outstanding . besides the terrific performance from andrew and the movie feature the always delightful tierney . she have a quality that can make even the bleak of moment seem brighter . the rest of the cast be just a solid with tom tully a the wrongly accuse father be a real standout . beyond the acting and the direction and set and lighting and and cinematography be all top notch . overall and it an amazingly well make film . if i have one complaint ( and admittedly it a very and very minor quibble ) it that tierney be almost too perfect for the role and her surroundings . it a little difficult to believe that a woman like that could find herself mixed up with some of these unsavory character . it not really her fault and it just the way tierney come across . she seem a little too beautiful and polished and and delicate for the part . but and her gentle and kind and trusting nature add a sense of needed realism to her portrayal .