In NIGHT AND THE CITY, director Jules Dassin brilliantly fuses two styles of filmmaking, crossing the expressionist lighting and framing of film noir with the almost documentary location shooting he used for THE NAKED CITY (1948). Dassin treats NIGHT AND THE CITYs central London locations as strange exotic places. As the movie .. Read more
| Starring | Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, Herbert Lom |
|---|---|
| Director | Jules Dassin |
| Genres | Drama |
loading...
In NIGHT AND THE CITY, director Jules Dassin brilliantly fuses two styles of filmmaking, crossing the expressionist lighting and framing of film noir with the almost documentary location shooting he used for THE NAKED CITY (1948). Dassin treats NIGHT AND THE CITYs central London locations as strange exotic places. As the movie opens, it is night time and small-time hood Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) is running from almost unseen pursuers. Harry crosses in front of St. Paul's Cathedral, and Dassin shows this familiar tourist sight from a very high angle, then immediately juxtaposes a shot of Harry escaping through bombed-out ruins. While Dassin and director of photography Max Greene shoot exteriors from high angles or from cramped doorways, they shoot interiors from low angles catching their actors against heavily contrasted backgrounds. The result is a movie full of diamond-sharp, angst-ridden visuals.
NIGHT AND THE CITY is built round the dynamic febrile performance of Richard Widmark as the constantly scheming, ever-overreaching Harry. Herbert Lom is brilliant as the Greek who ruthlessly controls wrestling in London. Francis L. Sullivan, huge and slow moving, exudes menace as nightclub owner Phil Nosseross. And Googie Withers is very striking as Nosseross's smart but desperate wife.
| Starring | Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, Herbert Lom |
|---|---|
| Director | Jules Dassin |
| Studio | BFI VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 32 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 1950 To Rent: DVD: 15 Oct 2007 |
Bizarre film noir with Widmark as a small time nightclub tout trying to hustle his way into the wrestling rackets, but... read more on Time Out
- 6
- 0
Customer Review
Sweaty hopes and fears all played out in a glistening black and white, bombsite London as a hyped up Widmark makes all the wrong choices. He's cashing in on... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 0
- 0
So nearly great...
For the first 80 minutes or so this is classic if not THE classic film noir- about a dreamer in the London post war criminal underground who still fancies his ... read more »
- 0
- 0
Convincing Nastiness and Entanglements
An elegantly constructed plot; with every opportunity for vicious tensions, making a sharply dramatic film, sharply presented, with outstanding acting ... read more »
- 0
- 0
yanks in London
An enjoyable crime thriller of double cross and hidden agendas.
Excellent performances all round and a wrestling match that seems to spray sweat off ... read more »
26 May 2010
27 Oct 2008
20 Jan 2012
18 Aug 2011
30 May 2008
by:
Tolis
from Kent
Want to watch something right now?
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | EULA | Affiliates | Jobs | Inside LOVEFiLM Blog | About Us | Contact Us
International sites UK DK DE SE NO
LOVEFiLM, the LOVEFiLM logo and all other LOVEFiLM product or service names are trade marks of LOVEFiLM International Ltd. or its affiliates.
© 2012 LOVEFiLM UK Ltd. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
84.6% from 44 members
