Tonight's Movie: City That Never Sleeps (1953) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review
CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS (1953), a durably enjoyable '50s film noir, was just released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.It's part of the Dark Side of Cinema XXV collection along with THE FLAME (1947) and the previously reviewed HELL'S HALF ACRE (1954).
I've been fortunate to see CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS twice theatrically, first at UCLA in 2014 and again in 2019 at the Egyptian Theatre. I very much enjoyed returning to it after half a dozen years thanks to Kino Lorber's attractive Blu-ray.
CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS is a bit reminiscent of THE NAKED CITY (1948), following the work of big city cops; in the case of THE NAKED CITY the story took place in New York, while CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS unfolds in Chicago.
Beyond police officers, CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS features a large cast of characters whose lives intersect in different ways one fateful night. The crime and gritty settings contrast with just a bit of an "otherworldy" atmosphere, of which no more will be said.Gig Young plays Johnny Kelly, who's dissatisfied with every aspect of his life. He became a police officer to please his police detective father (Otto Hulett) but isn't really enjoying it.
His personal life is also a shambles, as he's considering leaving his sweet, pretty wife Kathy (Paula Raymond) for a shrew (Mala Powers) who's a nightclub stripper. Granted, Kathy has a harridan of a mother, but otherwise she certainly seems like the finer of the two options.The movie follows Johnny through a single night, during which he's considering taking a bribe from Penrod Biddel (Edward Arnold) to help finance blowing town with his lover. A substitute partner (Chill Wills) gently probes Johnny's actions and helps reawaken his conscience.
Another key character on the night in question is Hayes Stewart (William Talman), who plans to blackmail Penrod and run off with his trophy wife, Lydia (Marie Windsor). Johnny's wayward kid brother (Ron Hagerthy) is mixed up in things, too.It's an engrossing 90 minutes thanks to a top cast and a solid script by Steve Fisher, who also wrote the set's HELL'S HALF ACRE.
The first time I saw the movie I particularly singled out Talman's villain for comment; Talman absolutely aced playing noir villains in the early '50s. Over time my favorite character has become Windsor's duplicitous wife. She's initially all sweetness and light with hubby Arnold, but we soon learn she's carrying on behind his back with Talman. It's a great part for Windsor from first scene to last.This was the third film I'd seen Arnold in in the past week, having also watched him in DIAMOND JIM (1935) and TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME (1949) last weekend at the TCM Classic Film Festival. He was certainly one of the movies' great "utility players," equally able to conjure audience sympathy or disgust.
Young's cop isn't especially sympathetic, given that he's about to tip over to the "dark side"; also, the father who supposedly pressured him into police work is never seen as anything other than kind and helpful, so it's hard to feel that Young's cop should be so aggrieved. He selfishly doesn't seem to appreciate his family. That said, it's enjoyable following Young's character arc thanks to his experiences and the influence of his temporary partner, Sgt. Joe (Wills).The movie was directed by John H. Auer and filmed in black and white by John L. Russell Jr., including location work in Chicago. The supporting cast includes Wally Cassell, James Andelin, Tom (Thomas) Poston, and Bunny Kacher. It took me a second to recognize Poston as "Pop" Kelly's partner.
Disc extras consist of a commentary track by the always-worthwhile Imogen Sara Smith, plus a gallery of three trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.For more on this film, please visit a post written by my late friend Paddy, aka "Caftan Woman," who incisively notes the power of Mala Powers' performance. Truly, every performance in this film is pitch perfect, and it has stood up to repeat viewings over the last dozen years or so.
Beyond police officers, CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS features a large cast of characters whose lives intersect in different ways one fateful night. The crime and gritty settings contrast with just a bit of an "otherworldy" atmosphere, of which no more will be said.Gig Young plays Johnny Kelly, who's dissatisfied with every aspect of his life. He became a police officer to please his police detective father (Otto Hulett) but isn't really enjoying it.
Kino Lorber's print is from a Paramount Pictures HD master from a 4K scan. It looks and sounds very nice.
posted by Laura @ 5:30 PM
1 Comments:
By far the best and msot knowing review I have read re The City that Never Sleeps. I praticualrly like Chill Wills and the way you handled him and his part, without him, I would pass on Gig.
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