Comments on: The Naked City (1948): “There are 8 million stories… “

By: Tony d’Ambra Reviews Hathaway’s ‘Call Northside 777′ at FilmsNoir.net « Wonders in the Dark

Sat, 22 May 2010 20:08:01 +0000

[...] Dassin’s The Naked City for Mark Hellinger carries the banner for this nascence of a cinema-verite style of filming. [...]

By: Call Northside 777 (1948): “It’s a good world outside” | film noir

Call Northside 777 (1948): “It’s a good world outside” | film noir — Sat, 22 May 2010 09:36:55 +0000

[...] Dassin’s The Naked City for Mark Hellinger carries the banner for this nascence of cinema-verite style of filming. [...]

By: Cinematic Cities: Okinawa Noir | film noir

Cinematic Cities: Okinawa Noir | film noir — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:30:10 +0000

[...] Kurosawa’s 10th film directly inspired by Jules Dassin’s The Naked City (1948), explores the nether world of post-WW2 Japan in a story that parallels the American noir [...]

By: Dcd

Dcd — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:56:10 +0000

Hi! Tony,
Tony said,”Thanks Sam. Yes, the Criterion DVD is brilliant – the restoration is flawless.”

Wow!..That is a “ringing” endorsement from my “self-proclaimed” mentor…Dassin’s two-disc Criterion set, will be (opened) over the week-end.

Take care!
Dcd ;)

“Chandler wrote like a slumming angel and invested the sun-blinded streets of Los Angeles with a romantic presence.”-author Ross Macdonald

By: Dcd

Dcd — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:44:29 +0000

Sam said,”And needless to say Tony, DCD et all, the two-disc Criterion set of this film is a big winner.”
Sam Juliano, I agree with you, 100% the two-disc Criterion set of this film is a big winner.”
And Even though I really enjoy watching Dassin’s “Naked City” it doesn’t rank in my “top 10 list” of fav(e) (orite) films anymore.

Sam Juliano said,”Does DCD need copies?” Oh! no, I already own the (unopened) two-disc Criterion set.(Sam Juliano, I “picked it up” in 2007 or 2008…(TRANSLATION:
I purchased the two-disc Criterion set 2 years ago methinks.) :? (Testing)

Let me echo Tony’s sentiment(s,)I too hope that you enjoy Ethan “Gattaca” Hawke performance in Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard. Wow!..(A thought!) You’re going to see “in person” “the person” that Tony wrote, about (Tony, reviewed the film “Gattaca” on Sam Juliano’s blog ) on your blog. Now, that is eerie!…Just kidding! ;)

Take care!
dcd :)

By: Tony D'Ambra

Tony D'Ambra — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:21:58 +0000

Thanks Sam. Yes, the Citerion DVD is brilliant – the restoration is flawless. I hope you enjoyed the Cherry Orchard. I would love to have seen Ethan Hawke live – ;ooking forward to your review at Wonders in the Dark.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:49:33 +0000

And needless to say Tony, DCD et all, the two-disc Criterion set of this film is a big winner.

Does DCD need copies? I know Tony probably owns the original.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:47:30 +0000

And guess who will be crossing the Williamsburg Bridge about one hour from now enroute to a Ethan Hawke-starring stage play of Chekov’s THE CHERRY ORCHARD at the Brooklyn Harvey Theatre? LOL!!! And I’ll be thinking of this film now that I’ve read this most fine review!

Well, here’s one of the most high-profile films of its kind, and one that of course was the inspiration of the famous television series. I agree with what you say that it took the following year with THIEVES HIGHWAY to really establish Dassin as a noir master, and yes, one thinks of the documentary genre with this film even before noir. So many components made this one stand-out, including (as you note)the great Rozsa’s score, Paul Weatherwx’s editing, and most of all, the absolutely stunning Oscar winning black and white cinematography by William H. Daniels. I quite agree that there’s little irony or depth in this well-described “police procederal” which still is a model of its kind.
Regardless of what category we place this film, it’s still one of Dassin’s most justly celebrated films.
A wonderfully written and observed addition to the FilmsNoir.net archives.

By: Dcd

Dcd — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:44:45 +0000

Tony said,”Tks Dcd. I would have liked to include a lot more frames – the cinematography is that stunning.” I agree with you, but personally,I think that you have included enough photograph to “pique” readers, who(m) have never watched this film interests.
and for those of us who(m)have watched the 1948 film “Naked City” “8 millions” times…enough pictures for us to watch this film again, just to find out what happens after frame (picture) #5 and #6 again!
Tks,
Dcd

“Chandler wrote like a slumming angel and invested the sun-blinded streets of Los Angeles with a romantic presence.”-author Ross Macdonald

By: Tony D'Ambra

Tony D'Ambra — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:56:49 +0000

Thanks Edwards for your insight. I wanted to include a frame of that scene in the post, but an image in isolation seemed not to have the same searing impact.