IMDb > The Naked City (1948)
The Naked City
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The Naked City (1948) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   2,823 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Jules Dassin
Writers:
Malvin Wald (story) and
Albert Maltz (screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Naked City on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 March 1948 (USA) more
Tagline:
The Soul of a City - HER GLORY STRIPPED! HER PASSIONS BARED! (re-release print ad - many caps) more
Plot:
Amid a semi-documentary portrait of New York and its people, Jean Dexter, an attractive blonde model... more | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations more
User Comments:
A Turning Point In Film Noir more (49 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Barry Fitzgerald ... Det. Lt. Dan Muldoon
Howard Duff ... Frank Niles

Dorothy Hart ... Ruth Morrison
Don Taylor ... Det. Jimmy Halloran
Frank Conroy ... Capt. Donahue
Ted de Corsia ... Willie Garzah aka Willie the Harmonica
House Jameson ... Dr. Stoneman
Anne Sargent ... Mrs. Halloran
Adelaide Klein ... Mrs. Paula Batory
Grover Burgess ... Mr. Batory
Tom Pedi ... Det. Perelli
Enid Markey ... Mrs. Edgar Hylton
Mark Hellinger ... Narrator (voice)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
96 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Shot in eighty-four days during the summer of 1947. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene with the police and Mr. and Mrs. Batory at the waterfront, the sun goes up then down. more
Quotes:
Muldoon: I don't know anything about medicine, doctor, but that's one prescription that never cured anything. more
Movie Connections:
References High Conquest (1947) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
47 out of 51 people found the following comment useful.
A Turning Point In Film Noir, 31 March 2005
7/10
Author: gftbiloxi (gftbiloxi@yahoo.com) from Biloxi, Mississippi

There are two styles of Film Noir. Fueled by writers like James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett, and Raymond Chandler, the first style emerged in the 1940s and was characterized by a cynical, often witty tone; anti-heroes, dangerous women, and assorted criminal elements; and complex plots that emphasized betrayal and moral ambiguity. It was also photographed in a remarkable visual style that combined glossy production values with atmospheric emphasis on light and shadow--and films like THE MALTESE FALCON, THIS GUN FOR HIRE, MILDRED PIERCE, THE BLUE DAHLIA, and DOUBLE INDEMNITY remain great classics of their kind.

But after World War II public taste began to change. Things that could only be hinted at in earlier films could now be more directly stated, and as audiences clamored for a more gritty realism the glossy sophistication of 1940s Noir fell out of fashion. The result was a new style of Noir--photographed in a grainier way, more direct, more brutal, and even less sympathetic to its characters. And the 1948 THE NAKED CITY was among the first to turn the tide. The sophisticated gumshoe, slinky gun moll, and glossy production values were gone; this film felt more like something you might read in a particularly lurid "true detective" tabloid.

In an era when most films were shot on Hollywood backlots, THE NAKED CITY was actually filmed in New York--and while filmmakers could film with hidden cameras sound technology of the day posed a problem. But producer Mark Hellinger turned the problem into an asset: the film would be narrated, adding to the documentary-like style of the cinematography and story. (Hellinger performed the narrative himself, and his sharp delivery is extremely effective.) The story itself reads very much like a police report, following NYPD detectives as they seek to solve a dress model's murder.

For 1948 it was innovative stuff-but like many innovative films it falters a bit in comparison to later films that improved upon the idea. The direct nature of the plot feels slightly too direct, slightly too simple. The same is true of the performances, which have a slightly flat feel, and although Barry Fitzgerald gives a sterling performance he is very much a Hollywood actor whose style seems slightly out of step alongside the deadpan style of the overall cast. Even so, the pace and drive of the film have tremendous interest, and while you might find yourself criticizing certain aspects you'll still be locked into the movie right to the very end. Particularly recommended for Film Noir addicts, who will be fascinated to see the turning point in the style.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

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Message Boards

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Parents of Murdered Girl suel41452
narration waterboy995
Poor commentary on the Criterion DVD jonfrum2000
What is the name of the Irish song Muldoon sings throughout the film? verbrands
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Connection to French Connection sherlock-37
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