This Jules Dassin film noir is really BLACK, and the casting and
acting are superb, as is the ambience (which the 1992 remake
doesn't have.) Widmark gives one of his best performances as
the anxious Fabian, and Googie Withers is terrifically
believable (and sexy) as the desperately unsatisfied wife of
nightclub-owner Sullivan. The movie has a real SLEAZINESS that
reflects the depressing post-WWII atmosphere of London -- this
is the story's reason for being -- these folks want OUT, and we
can fully understand why. "Night and the City" was apparently
another victim of Hollywood's shameful "non- marketing" of
really fine 40s and 50s British films -- co-produced by American
studios -- but dropped into U.S. theatres with no visible
promotion of either stars or stories because they weren't made
on U.
acting are superb, as is the ambience (which the 1992 remake
doesn't have.) Widmark gives one of his best performances as
the anxious Fabian, and Googie Withers is terrifically
believable (and sexy) as the desperately unsatisfied wife of
nightclub-owner Sullivan. The movie has a real SLEAZINESS that
reflects the depressing post-WWII atmosphere of London -- this
is the story's reason for being -- these folks want OUT, and we
can fully understand why. "Night and the City" was apparently
another victim of Hollywood's shameful "non- marketing" of
really fine 40s and 50s British films -- co-produced by American
studios -- but dropped into U.S. theatres with no visible
promotion of either stars or stories because they weren't made
on U.