Night and the City (1950)

A small-time grifter and nightclub tout takes advantage of some fortuitous circumstances and tries to become a big-time player as a wrestling promoter.

Director:

Jules Dassin

Writers:

Jo Eisinger (screenplay), Gerald Kersh (novel),

Stars:

Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, Googie Withers

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Widmark	...	Harry Fabian
Gene Tierney	...	Mary Bristol
Googie Withers	...	Helen Nosseross
Hugh Marlowe	...	Adam Dunn
Francis L. Sullivan	...	Philip Nosseross
Herbert Lom	...	Kristo
Stanislaus Zbyszko	...	Gregorius
Mike Mazurki	...	The Strangler
Charles Farrell	...	Mickey Beer
Ada Reeve	...	Molly the Flower Lady
Ken Richmond	...	Nikolas of Athens (as Ken. Richmond)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adelaide Hall	...	Singer (scenes deleted)
Eliot Makeham	...	Pinkney (scenes deleted)
Betty Marsden	...	Undetermined Role (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Harry Fabian is a London hustler with ambitious plans that never work out. One day, when he encounters the most famous Greco-Roman wrestler in the world, Gregorius, at a London wrestling arena run by his son Kristo, he dreams up a scheme that he thinks will finally be his ticket to financial independence. As Fabian attempts to con everyone around him to get his scheme to work, he of course only ends up conning himself. This is an interesting tale of blind ambition, self-deception, broken dreams, and how a man who always thinks he's ahead of the game ends up tripping himself very badly.

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Plot Keywords:

wrestling | scheme | wrestling promoter | nightclub | hustler | 

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Sport | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1950 (UK)

Also Known As:

Die Ratte von Soho

Filming Locations:

Dean Street, Soho, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century-Fox Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one of Harry's trips the London at night, a theatre advertises the play, 'The Third Visitor'. This play would be made into a film in 1951.

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Goofs

As Harry is being chased through the streets of London at night, he runs down a set of stairs, then turns and runs down a lit street. In the foreground the cameraman and director's shadows are clearly outlined against the street.

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Quotes

Mary Bristol: Harry, do you know what you're doing? You're killing me. You're killing me and yourself.

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Connections

References Escape Me Never (1947)

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Soundtracks

"She Was Poor but She Was Honest"
(uncredited)
Music by R.P. Weston
Played on the accordion at the bar when Harry meets Helen
(US version)

User Reviews

Exceptional Film Noir

Jules Dassin no doubt established his reputation with this picture, the best he ever made, a virtually flawless and absorbing film noir with multiple plot twists and a great collection of characters.

Richard Widmark, a real-life war hero, always preferred hero roles in movies; but he made his screen reputation playing a sleazy rat in his first movie, and he does an even better job in this film.

Although the story is great, I was somewhat distracted by noticing the relentless excellence of the cinematography, lighting, direction, acting, et cetera.

Despite the summary, there is very little professional wrestling on screen; but what there is will teach you a lot.

Gene Tierney, a true superstar of the 1950's, does not have much screen time in this one; but what she's got is most welcome.

Hollywood in 2007 would have no ability to make a movie like this one. What we get now is a silly bloodbath from the Coen Brothers --- posing as excellence. Thank God for the oldies.