It is obvious that people are going to think this film noir takes place in New York considering the Kander and Ebb song and the reputation of the Big Apple. However, it is actually the Windy City, an obvious fact in the credits which thanks the Chicago Police Department. The film surrounds one night and a disgruntled, ready to retire cop (Gig Young) who also plans to leave his wife. He seems not only world-weary but a little shady as he makes a deal with legal eagle Edward Arnold while on duty with a wise, older partner (Chill Wills) who seems to be playing the voice of his conscience from the moment they meet for this one-shot evening together.
The movie immediately begins with the feeling of its influence by 1948's masterpiece "The Naked City" as all of the world weary night creatures are introduced, from dancers in a sleazy revue to the mannequin like robot man in the nightclub's window. The plot quickly turns into a bit of a convoluted mess as Arnold's wife is revealed to be betraying him with his enemy and a series of shoot-outs leads to a violent confrontation on a train track for a horrifying finale. The film definitely has that gritty, film noir feel to it that makes the genre so great as a whole, but the overall story telling in this instance is sometimes dizzying.
Cast wise, this is pure delight all the way, from Young who exudes exhaustion from the moment you first see him, to femme fatales Mala Powers and Marie Windsor, and the obviously phony Arnold whose honor on the outside is covered by sleaze on the inside. William Talman is a great film noir villain without that Dan Duryea like obviousness, even though you know what side of the law instantly his bread is buttered on. Some clever lines in the screenplay help hide the fact that this puzzle has a few pieces missing and other pieces from other puzzles thrown in to confuse the person trying to put it all together.
The movie immediately begins with the feeling of its influence by 1948's masterpiece "The Naked City" as all of the world weary night creatures are introduced, from dancers in a sleazy revue to the mannequin like robot man in the nightclub's window. The plot quickly turns into a bit of a convoluted mess as Arnold's wife is revealed to be betraying him with his enemy and a series of shoot-outs leads to a violent confrontation on a train track for a horrifying finale. The film definitely has that gritty, film noir feel to it that makes the genre so great as a whole, but the overall story telling in this instance is sometimes dizzying.
Cast wise, this is pure delight all the way, from Young who exudes exhaustion from the moment you first see him, to femme fatales Mala Powers and Marie Windsor, and the obviously phony Arnold whose honor on the outside is covered by sleaze on the inside. William Talman is a great film noir villain without that Dan Duryea like obviousness, even though you know what side of the law instantly his bread is buttered on. Some clever lines in the screenplay help hide the fact that this puzzle has a few pieces missing and other pieces from other puzzles thrown in to confuse the person trying to put it all together.