East Side, West Side (1949 film)

East Side, West Side is a 1949 American crime drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy. It stars Barbara Stanwyck, James Mason, Ava Gardner, and Van Heflin. The film tells the story of a wealthy New York City couple, Brandon and Jessie Bourne (played by Mason and Stanwyck), whose marriage is threatened by Brandon's wandering eye and his attraction to a younger woman, Rosa Senta (played by Gardner). Van Heflin portrays Mark Dwyer, a police detective who becomes entangled in the Bournes' complicated lives and is investigating a murder somehow linked to the socialite set.

The film explores themes of infidelity, social class, and the moral complexities of post-war American society. Its title refers to the contrasting areas of Manhattan and, metaphorically, the different social circles and values depicted within the narrative. East Side, West Side features stylish black-and-white cinematography and was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The screenplay was adapted from the novel "East Side, West Side" by Marcia Davenport.