Night and the City is classic film noir, but there's a twist: while the vast majority of film noir thrillers are purely American, this 1950 feature was American-made but set entirely in London, lending it a visual quality that's unique to the genre. It's also a prime showcase for one of Richard Widmark's greatest performances, in the role of two-bit hustler Harry Fabian, who's so desperate for a life of "ease and plenty" that he pursues an underworld scheme (involving the London pro-wrestling scene) that will ultimately cost him everything. One of the most spectacular flameouts in cinema history, Harry is an antihero par excellence, an irredeemable scumbag who deserves everything he gets. Loosely based on the classic novel by Gerald Kersh, this impressively stylish film was directed by Jules Dassin, who was on the verge of exile anyway thanks to the infamous Hollywood blacklist (indeed, it was his last and arguably finest American film), when he was sent to London to begin production. In addition to Widmark's perfectly sneering performance, Night and the City boasts an excellent supporting cast (including Gene Tierney, Googie Withers, Herbert Lom, and Francis L. Sullivan). Presented with a characteristically eye-popping transfer, this Criterion DVD release includes interviews with Dassin from 1972 and 2002, an excellent audio commentary by film noir expert Glenn Erickson, and a comparison study of the two different scores written for the British and American releases of the film. Highly recommended. (J. Shannon)
Night and the City
Criterion, 95 min., not rated, DVD: $39.95 Volume 20, Issue 3
Night and the City
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