While the City Sleeps (1956)

A serial killer has been killing beautiful women in New York and the new owner of a media company offers a high ranking job to the first of his senior executives who can get the earliest scoops on the case.

Director:

Fritz Lang

Writers:

Casey Robinson (screenplay), Charles Einstein (novel)

Stars:

Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, George Sanders

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dana Andrews	...	Edward Mobley
Rhonda Fleming	...	Dorothy Kyne
George Sanders	...	Mark Loving
Howard Duff	...	Lt. Burt Kaufman
Thomas Mitchell	...	Jon Day Griffith
Vincent Price	...	Walter Kyne
Sally Forrest	...	Nancy Liggett
John Drew Barrymore	...	Robert Manners (as John Barrymore Jr.)
James Craig	...	'Honest' Harry Kritzer
Ida Lupino	...	Mildred Donner
Robert Warwick	...	Amos Kyne
Mae Marsh	...	Mrs. Manners
Ralph Peters	...	Gerald Meade
Sandra White	...	Judith Felton (as Sandy White)
Larry J. Blake	...	Tim - Police Desk Sergeant (as Larry Blake)

Storyline

Death of media magnate Amos Kyne is causing power struggle between his executives. In the meantime New York women become prey of a serial killer. Reporter Edward Mobley is in that circumstances faced with almost impossible missions: to catch the killer, to prevent the media empire from falling into the wrong hands and to save his romantic relationship from break-up.

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual subtext | mama's boy | comic book influence | psychotronic film | journalist | 

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Taglines:

The story of these big-time newspaper people is more sensational than any crime they cover. It will keep you on the edge of your seat... and your nerves.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dana Andrews and Vincent Price famously starred in the Film Noir classic 'Laura' together. Their characters don't get along in either film.

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Goofs

There appears to be a knob for a inside-only bolt lock on Judith's door - above the main doorknob push-button lock, but there is no corresponding throw or plate on the edge of the door.

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Quotes

Ed Mobely: But I didn't do anything!
Lt. Burt Kaufman: You think if you're drunk, it doesn't count, huh?

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Connections

Referenced in The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs: Joe Bob's Red Christmas: Black Christmas (2019)

User Reviews

rather deceiving

When you're gonna see a movie made by Fritz lang and starring Vincent Price and Ida Lupino , George Sanders and Rhonda Fleming , Dana Andrews and Thomas Mitchell you really think you re gonna see something else...well its not..The movie is OK and has very nice moments which shows the claw of Fritz lang and you enjoy to see those stars..but you are really not interested in the story which is quite unlikely if not quite stupid..and the choice of the very very dull Sally Forrest (a kind of under-Doris Day )spoils it all . Its not her fault but you dont put a white goose in front of such women as Lupino or Fleming , or with such Carnivorous as Price or Sanders.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

News Is Made at Night

Filming Locations:

RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,652

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bert E. Friedlob Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1