Scarlet Street (1945)

Chris Cross (Edward G. Robinson), 25 years a cashier, has a gold watch and little else. That rainy night, he rescues delectable Kitty (Joan Bennett) from her abusive boyfriend Johnny (Dan Duryea). Smitten, amateur painter Chris lets Kitty think he’s a wealthy artist. At Johnny’s urging, she lets Chris establish her in an apartment (with his shrewish wife’s money). There, Chris paints masterpieces, but Johnny sells them under Kitty’s name, with disastrous and ironic results.