Night and the City - Criterion Collection
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Movie Reviews of Night and the City - Criterion Collection
Movie Review: Noir masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
"Night and the City" is classic film noir based on the Gerald Kersh novel with Richard Widmark as Harry Fabian, a two-bit hustler scheming to become a big-time fight promoter in London.
Widmark is superb in what may be his best performance. He brings to mind James Cagney at times, but he's actually more like Bugs Bunny, full of bravado and nervous energy.
And let's not forget Mike Mazurski as the Strangler, as brutish as he was playing Moose Malloy in Murder, My Sweet but with a hint of more intelligence, and portly Francis L. Sullivan, a "fat man" in the style of Sydney Green street, but more tragic. Herbert Lom, Googie Withers, and Stanislaw Zbyazko, once a real star of Roman-Greco wrestling, are also excellent. Gene Tierney, however, is superfluous as Widmark's girlfriend, and Hugh Marlowe, who plays the sort of bland role he was often assigned in 20th Century Fox films, has little to do but express his disapproval for Fabian's way of life.
The look of the film is one of its strengths with scenes cast in a luminous black contrasted with almost ghostly whites.
Dismissed as lurid nonsense about undesirable characters when released (Variety chimed in with one of the few positive reviews), "Night and the City" is a masterpiece that hasn't dated a bit. It has a modern sensibility that makes it more contemporary than the 1992 remake (with Robert DeNiro in Widmark's role).
Brian W. Fairbanks
Movie Review: this is what film noir is all about, isn't it ?
Summary: 5 Stars
NIGHT AND THE CITY...RIGHT?
almost like macbeth in nature, richard widmark makes choices in his life that can ultimately lead to only one conclusion...along the way are a loyal but weary girlfriend, shady husband and wife business partners, and a professional wrestler living glory days past his prime...standing in widmark's path to riches is the underworld organization....but it's the war torn city of london at night that takes center stage in dassin's shakespearean-like tragedy, which is certainly one of the best film noir's ever made.
(want to save yourself 20-30 bucks..buy the OOP factory original 20th century fox vhs instead of the criterion dvd...the videotape is clear, complete, and captioned.)
Movie Review: Visual Tour de Force
Summary: 4 Stars
When friends who are unfamiliar with film noir ask me to explain just what it is, inevitably the answer turns to the visual aspects of light, shadow and rain in an urban landscape. In this respect, Night and the City is prime material: the cinematography captures it all, and in this new Criterion transfer, is all one could ask for. Filmed in London, the fog, rain and darkness are used to great advantage.
When I continue with my explanation of film noir, I mention the interpersonal intrigue, and the character -always male- who gets into trouble. In this case it's Richard Widmark's Harry Fabian, who plays his enthusiastic, almost adolescent huckster role to the hilt. It's here - in overall plot interest - that I regrettably relegate to second-tier noir. To each his own, but the story just didn't grab me the way some other noir does (check out 'DOA' or 'Kanas City Confidential' for some great story telling). What's missing here is a sense of mystery and intrigue, and if you seek that in your cinema, this is not the best place to look.
Criterion has offered an interview with director Jules Dassin who, at the time this film was made (1950) was about to be blacklisted as a communist, and move to Europe permanently. There is also a featurette comparing the scores of the American and British releases of the film. The main feature uses the American version (Dassin's pick as the definitive score for the film). Alternately over-dramatic during chase scenes, and cloying during tender moments, it detracted from my experience. The examples of the British score are more understated, which may be a benefit, but we only treated to bits and pieces.
The ultimate noir? Not in my book, but Criterion has done its usual good job, and this can be recommended for serious collectors. Casual viewers wanting to take in the visual aspects of noir will do very well here, but as a story, it's merely average, and you might consider spending your dough on something else, such as Dassin's 'Naked City', which trades some of the arresting visuals for a gritty urban documentary-style story.
Movie Review: Moody Noir Looks Good
Summary: 4 Stars
This Criterion DVD elevates this film from "good" to "excellent." That is because a good transfer is a must to fully enjoy this dark-looking film noir.
Most of the action takes place at night in London alleyways, nightclubs and gymnasiums. The storyline is a downer, that's for sure. It is a rough and moody story. Richard Widmark, as "Harry Fabian," has the starring role and plays a real loser, a desperate man who always has a scheme concocted but usually messes up. Some critics think this is Widmark's best performance ever. Francis Sullivan is interesting as the nightclub owner. Gene Tierney gets second billing but doesn't have much of role in here.
Some memorable scenes include a wrestling match with big Mike Mazurki and "Gregorious." I'm not much into wrestling but this was an amazing match, extremely intense.
This film is a bit different from most American-based film noirs. It has a certain fascination to it....and it's nice to finally be able to see the great visuals clearly. The story grows on you, getting better with each viewing.
Movie Review: One of Widmark's very best performances
Summary: 4 Stars
As Harry Fabian, anti-hero of Night and the City, Richard Widmark is brilliant. He makes watching this film a whole lot more entertaining and interesting than reading the novel (by Gerald Kersh) which, though interesting for its time, is somewhat dated today. But the film dazzles. Jules Dassin, the director, knew exactly how to set up every shot to maximum noir advantage and it's a unique film noir--set in London with an American protagonist.
Watching Widmark strut his stuff as Harry the loser is absolutely riveting. The supporting cast--especially Googie Withers as the scheming, sexy wife of hefty nightclub owner Phil Nosseros; Herbert Lom as the son (Cristo) of once-great wrestling champ Gregorius; and Gene Tierney as Harry's beautiful singer girlfriend (how come an average guy can't find a woman like THAT anymore??? sigh)--are all excellent. Mike Mazurki as wrestler "The Strangler" should also be mentioned; along with Lom, he adds the nightmarish element that film noir craves.
But Widmark steals the show. Whether wheedling, giggling, running for his life, confessing, trying to convince, or overly excited, he's amazing. If this isn't his best performance on film, it's gosh-darned close. And because this is film noir, there's no happy ending. In Harry's case, that's especially true. Always chasing after the bucks, he winds up with less than zero. But that has a hidden meaning which won't be revealed here.
With one scam after another, Harry tries to rake in the dough and finally, he thinks, hits on the "big one"--wrestling promotion. The scheme he starts with seems at first to be picking up steam and looks like a sure thing, guaranteed to bring him a "life of ease and plenty", as he loves to say. But this is not to be.
This is one of the seminal film noirs, definitely not to be missed. It's great.