Rent Cry of the City (1948)
3.6 of 5 from 99 ratings
1h 31min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Martin Rome drives the law crazy - he is a beautiful loser, defying death, the great charismatic anti-hero of Siodmak's masterpiece of law and disorder. Adapted from a novel by Henry Edward Helseth, 'Cry of the City' tells the tale of a charismatic New York criminal and his nemesis, the dogged cop and one-time friend who chases him down with a neurotic possessiveness as though in pursuit of his own evil twin. Richard Conte's dazzling performance as Rome conveys a seductive ruthlessness opposite the brawny Victor Mature - a Fox favourite following his powerful performance in Kiss of Death - as Lieutenant Candella, the 'good guy' in the film's running battle between good and evil. They are supported by a brilliant cast including Debra Paget, Shelley Winters, and the mesmerising, scene-stealing Hope Emerson in her most original and remarkable role as a thieving murderess. 'Cry of the City' is a dark crime melodrama, filmed on location in New York in Voluptuous black and white by a director whose name is synonymous with the era of classic film noir. - Actors:
- Victor Mature, Richard Conte, Fred Clark, Shelley Winters, Betty Garde, Berry Kroeger, Tommy Cook, Debra Paget, Hope Emerson, Roland Winters, Walter Baldwin, Martin Begley, Dan Sheridan, Robert Adler, Mimi Aguglia, George Beranger, Oliver Blake, Harry Carter, Dolores Castle, Ken Christy
- Directors:
- Robert Siodmak
- Producers:
- Sol C. Siegel
- Writers:
- Richard Murphy, Henry Edward Helseth, Ben Hecht
- Aka:
- The Law and Martin Rome / The Chair for Martin Rome
- Studio:
- BFI Video
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Films of 1948
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 22/08/2016
- Run Time:
- 96 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Audio Commentary by Adrian Martin Adrian Wootton on 'Cry of the City' (2016, 26mins): a newly filmed appreciation by the critic and chief executive of Film London
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Reviews (3) of Cry of the City
Gripping Crime Drama - Cry of the City review by griggs
A compelling noir centred on a cop and a criminal who share a childhood background but have taken very different paths. Robert Siodmak directs with assurance, creating a moody, atmospheric piece full of tension. Victor Mature gives a more nuanced performance than usual, while Richard Conte strikes a perfect balance between charisma and menace. Shelley Winters makes a memorable mid-film appearance, stealing her scene with ease. The final speech from Mature feels slightly contrived, but that’s a small flaw in an otherwise well-crafted and gripping crime drama. Cry of the City is a fine example of the genre.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Film Noir - Cry of the City review by NO
Excellent B&W drama.Good story ,well photographed in B&W.Good performances from Mature & the under-rated Conte.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Forties Noir. - Cry of the City review by Steve
Not the best of Robert Siodmak's run of classic '40s noirs, but still a quality update of the old gangster set up about the cop and the crook who grew up on the same mean streets, destined to obsessively confront their alternative potential. This is the best role of Victor Mature's career as the dedicated Italian detective.
Though he's still matched by Richard Conte as the sociopathic cop killer. And womaniser. The mafia boss escapes from prison hospital to find his idealised other, his virtuous madonna- startlingly played by 14 year old Debra Paget. And then he searches the city at night for suckers to set them free.
The most potent of these encounters is with Hope Emerson, as a butch abortionist with a stake in a jewel robbery. The location photography of New York is striking, with the noir atmospherics reserved for the interiors. It was made by Fox, so Alfred Newman's music from Street Scene is again recycled, which is fine, but familiar.
It's a brutal portrayal of big city crime. Mature has to be willing to destroy himself to take down the narcissistic murderer. Aside from the resilient cop, everyone is malign, or indifferent. Censorship demands a moral perspective, but there is a tolerant, reformist agenda. This is a gangster noir classic and hugely influential.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.