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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed by Jules
Dassin
UK 1950
Adapted from the lowlife novel by Gerald Kersh, Night and the City is a baroque masterpiece of corruption, paranoia and doom that ranks among the true works of art in the film noir genre. Produced by Twentieth Century Fox, yet employing American, British and Continental personnel and filmed on the streets of London, it was directed by Jules Dassin, under suspicion in Hollywood for his political beliefs, who made it at great speed before he was blacklisted. Much of the filming was done in actual after-midnight hours, shooting night scenes in a London still shattered and skeletal from wartime bombings. Soho, Piccadilly and the Festival of Britain construction site on the South Bank were all locations. Richard Widmark delivers an indelible performance as Harry Fabian, a small-time American nightclub tout and desperate dreamer who tries to worm his way into the wrestling rackets of post-war London. In his path lie the formidable obstacles posed by a vengeful club owner Phil Nosseross (Francis L Sullivan) and the racketeer Kristo (Herbert Lom). The club owner's sultry wife (Googie Withers) schemes with him, and a long-suffering girlfriend (Gene Tierney) does her best to save Harry from himself. Like many a noir hero before him, Harry thinks he can outrun his fate. He's wrong. *** Deep within the bowels of shadow-infested London, two-bit hustler Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) struggles to live a life of ease and plenty. Trailed by an inglorious history of go-nowhere schemes, Fabian stumbles upon a chance of a lifetime in the form of legendary wrestler Gregorius the Great (Stanislaus Zbyszko). But there is no easy money in this underworld of shifting alliances, bottomless graft, and sweaty, pummeled flesh and soon Fabian learns the horrible price of his overweening ambition. Night and the City is a crowning achievement of legendary director Jules Dassin and quintessential film noir. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: April 1950 - UK
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
Film Noir: An Encyclopedia Reference to the American
Style by Alain Silver, Elizabeth Ward |
The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Film Noir Reader 4 : The Crucial Films and Themes
(Film Noir Reader) by Alain Silver |
The Art of Noir: The Posters and Graphics from the
Classic Era of Film Noir by Eddie Muller |
Film Noir by Alain Silver |
Film Noir Guide: 745 Films of the Classic Era,
1940-1959 by Michael F. Keaney |
Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. BFI - Region 2 - PAL vs. Pretty Gold Productions - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Criterion Collection Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Wild Side - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
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TOP LEFT 3) Pretty Gold - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM LEFT 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM SECOND 5) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM THIRD6) Wild Side - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM RIGHT
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Box Cover |
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Distribution | Criterion Collection - Spine # 274 - Region 1- NTSC | BFI - Region 2 - PAL |
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Pretty Gold Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Criterion Collection - Spine #274 - Region 'A' Blu-ray |
BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Wild Side - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Distribution | Criterion Collection - Spine # 274 - Region 1- NTSC | BFI - Region 2 - PAL |
Pretty Gold Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Criterion Collection - Spine #274 - Region 'A' Blu-ray |
BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Wild Side - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:35:36 | 1:31:39 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:35:36.272 | 1:35:50.745 | 1:35:38.733 | 1:35:43.612 |
Video | 1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.47mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.10 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 22,670,752,777 bytes Feature: 22,663,993,344 bytesVideo Bitrate: 25.49 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 47,424,327,502 bytes Feature: 22,658,537,472 bytesVideo Bitrate: 27.49 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 50,021,902,253 bytesFeature: 24,469,171,584 bytessVideo Bitrate: 29.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,766,907,692 bytesFeature: 20,194,363,392 bytesVideo Bitrate: 22.53 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 1.0) | English (Dolby Digital 1.0) |
LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit DUB: LPCM Audio German 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
LPCM Audio English
1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
DTS-HD
Master Audio French 1936 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1936 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core:
2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1931 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1931 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) |
Subtitles | English, None | English, None | None | English (SDH), None | English (SDH), None | French (SDH), (non-removable fro English dialogue) |
Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: • Audio
commentary by Glenn Erickson, author of the Film Noir Reader essay on
Night and the City
• "Two Scores" - a 2nd version of the film. Chris Husted
• Liner notes by Paul Arthur |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • Audio
commentary by Paul Duncan, co-author of
Film Noir • Featurette: "Two Versions - Two Scores" • 18-page liner notes booklet with essay by Lee Server
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Release Information: Studio: Pretty Gold Productions 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 22,670,752,777 bytes Feature: 22,663,993,344 bytesVideo Bitrate: 25.49 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• None |
Release Information: 1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 47,424,327,502 bytes Feature: 22,658,537,472 bytesVideo Bitrate: 27.49 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details:
• Alternate presentation of
the 100-minute British version of the film:
1080P / 23.976 fps
Feature: 14,448,390,144 bytes Video Bitrate: 18.02 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / no subtitles / 1:40:46.582 / 24 Chapters
Chapters: 24 |
Release Information: Studio: BFI Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 50,021,902,253 bytesFeature: 24,469,171,584 bytesVideo Bitrate: 29.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Alternate presentation of
the 100-minute British version of the film:
1080P / 23.976 fps
Feature: 21,066,292,800 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit / optional subtitles / 1:40:50.294 / 14 Chapters
Illustrated booklet with extensive credits and newly commissioned essays
Blu-ray
Release Date:
September 28th, 2015 Chapters 14 |
Release Information: Studio: Wild Side
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,766,907,692 bytesFeature: 20,194,363,392 bytesVideo Bitrate: 22.53 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Alternate presentation of
the 100-minute British version of the film:
1080P / 23.976 fps
Feature: Video Bitrate: 23.91 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video DTS-HD Master Audio English 1885 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1885 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) non-removable French subtitles / 1:40:47.750 / 13 Chapters
• 240-page Booklet • 2 DVDs
Blu-ray
Release Date: March 27th, 2019 Chapters 13 |
Comments: |
NOTE: These Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Wild Side - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (April 2019): Short story - the Wild Side stands out as having a most impressive 240-page book included in their heavy box set. I've never seen anything like it in all my years of reviewing - their are hundreds of stunningly beautiful full page photos and (relatively, very little) French text. It is amazing.
The bad news is that the films on Blu-ray (both US and 100-minute British version) have non-removable French subtitles when the English audio is chosen (actually the British version does not have an optional French DUB but the US theatrical version does). This was part of the licensing agreement that Wild Side made to produce this package. As compared to the other Blu-rays the image is slightly cropped and horizontally squished (fatter faces) for the US version, but looks about the same for the British.
Running in the Dark is another excellent Robert Fischer Fiction Factory video - see HERE - a 2016 English-language documentary with film scholar Glenn Erickson running over 42-minutes. tells the fascinating story behind Jules Dassin’s noir masterpiece starring Richard Widmark as an American low-life racketeer literally running out of luck in London. It is included on the Wild Side Blu-ray as is a trailer and the French only piece "Le Club De Jules Dassin". There are also two DVDs included with the two versions in SD.
So the book and the documentary are highlights. I guess the ultimate would be to keep the Criterion or BFI Blu-ray disc inside the gorgeous Wild Side package. This looks like it may already be sold out.
***
ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (September 2015): The good news is that BFI have also included the 100-minute British version at 1080p / 23.976 fps (24.0 Mbps) as an option. It is described by them as "Brand new 4K restoration of the US version and 2k restoration of the previously unseen British version". And both match up well with their US BD production counterpart - the US film version looks exactly the same as the Criterion transfer (although BFI's are both more technically robust) - toggling back and forth I can't tell a difference (I presume it is from the same restored source as framing is also exact). However, the British version looks shade superior than the Criterion's and it has an almost 50% higher bitrate! BFI also supply duplicate linear PCM mono track (for both versions). NOTE: This advances on the Criterion that only has a lossy Dolby Digital for the British version - and the BFI offers subtitles on the UK version where the Criterion does not.
T he BFI package also differs is it includes full commentaries for both - US version by Paul Duncan and a UK version audio commentary with Adrian Martin. BFI also add, on their stacked disc, a 1 1/4 hour onstage interview with Richard Widmark by Adrian Wootton at the National Film Theatre from 2002 and a 51-minute (audio only with stills) Guardian Lecture with Jules Dassin interviewed by Alexander Walker encompassing my highlights of his career and Night and the City. Lastly is an original theatrical trailer and the package contains an illustrated booklet with extensive credits and newly commissioned essays.
BFI sure cram a lot into their release (50 Gig full!) and it looks to surpass the Criterion in a few relevant areas (uncompressed audio, and optional subtitles on the British version and a commentary for both). It's an amazing, limited edition, Blu-ray package - one we can very strongly endorse. If you are keen, I wouldn't wait as it may be one that eventually becomes unavailable. Super job BFI!
***
ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray July 15': The Criterion 1080P is from a 4K digital restoration and it identifies the Pretty Gold as being horizontally stretched. The screen captures show the Criterion as brighter, cleaner, a shade cropped and it is significantly smoother in-motion with a marginally higher bitrate than its German counterpart. Now, I do like the darker look of the Pretty Gold but, in comparison, the stretching is more noticeable now and, a bit, distracting.
Criterion go very authentic with the audio in an uncompressed linear PCM in original mono. Waxman's score still pulsates through the film - elaborately in the final scenes. It sounds as good as the Pretty Gold - but maybe a bit more hollow. There are optional English subtitles on the region A'-locked Criterion Blu-ray.
Criterion really go the extra mile offering the 101-minute alternate presentation of the British version of the film. It is in 1080P / 23.976 fps but has a lesser bitrate (18.02 Mbps) - still quite watchable - and only Dolby Digital (lossy) mono audio. It has no subtitles option. It starts with the Certification card and has the more subtle Benjamin Frankel score. After director Jules Dassin was blacklisted in Hollywood while filming Night and the City in England, the film was assembled into two different edited and scored versions, one in London and one in Hollywood. Although Dassin was present for neither editing session he preferred the The American release, but it is fascinating to actually see the UK version... and in 1080P. Criterion keep the excellent audio commentary from 2005 with film scholar Glenn Erickson (only for US version), excerpts from a 1972 television interview with Dassin, trailer and liner notes with an essay by film scholar Paul Arthur. Criterion augment their new Blu-ray with a 17-minute interview with director Jules Dassin from 2005 where the director is very frank making an interesting declaration. Also repeated, but making a more useful supplement is the comparison of the scores for the British and American versions of the film by Chris Huston who also goes in detail about the difference of the versions (and how the scores and subtle editing effected the versions).
Absolute must own Blu-ray - the British edition is very different in tone and well worth watching and the Criterion is one of the packages of the year for me. Pure Noir beauty, and I love the cover!
NOTE : Unfortunately, it is not offered in current Barnes and Noble's current 50% OFF sale , but there is a pre-order discount (30%) at Amazon.
*** ADDITION: Pretty Gold - Region FREE - Blu-ray (August 14'): I don't know too much about "Pretty Gold Productions" (aka 'Intergroove') - we also reviewed their Pretty Poison Blu-ray, and this, also, definitely 1080p / 23.976 fps. It is competent - clean - plenty of grain textures - not as bright as the Criterion and not as dark as the BFI. There is some excessive grain at around the 1-hour mark with a bit of noise - but it was isolated to a minute or so. Contrast has some pleasing layers. DoP Mutz Greenbaum gives a clinic with the shadows in Night and the City. This aspect really benefits from the higher resolution. I liked the video - easily the best presentation of the three. What I noted as exceptionally appealing was the linear PCM audio - this is the US version with the Franz Waxman (Bride of Frankenstein, Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard) score. It sounds magical - Noir nirvana with the dramatic orchestrations. There are no subtitles but an optional German DUB and the disc is bare-bones with no supplements. It is region FREE! For me - this is irresistible; Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, a 'dark cinema' mainstay and in 1080P? Easy decision.*** ADDITION: BFI - Region - 2 - PAL (October 07'): Firstly, it was hoped that this would be the British version of the film but I understand the rights for that are tied up somewhere. It would have made a poignant companion to the Criterion US version. Both of these DVDs are the US version. Surprisingly I feel the BFI dual-layered progressive image has a superior image (and feel) than the Criterion from 2005. This is only my opinion but I prefer the generally darker and sharper PAL edition in terms of image. Now it does exhibit more digital noise than the Criterion but I guess I am willing to acquiesce to that to see the DVD transfer that supports dark feel of the film more astutely (again my opinion). The BFI bitrate is higher. In regards to framing - there is some movement and zooming but overall I feel the BFI shows a shade more information (in many scenes) mostly at the bottom of the frame. I don't find this significant but if I don't comment on it I get emails. Audio is the same as far as my ears can tell - the 4% PAL speedup didn't seem to dramatically alter the pitch in my opinion. In the supplements - both offer an excellent commentary - I wouldn't dare choose one over the other but I really enjoyed Paul Duncan's' very professional manner. Glenn Erickson's is also wonderful and it's nice they bring up different points (although a few are duplicated). This could be reason enough to own the BFI! Both offer the same 1972 Dassin interview (excerpts) and 'Two Versions - Two Scores' featurette. Criterion go one step further with a 25 minute video interview with Dassin (another one). Both offer informative liner notes but between the two I might lean to BFI.There you have it. If you love the film, as I, the BFI is worthy if only for another commentary but you may also feel that the PAL image is superior. Certainly the screen caps support them being sharper (or at least the perception of being sharper). This film is a true gem and I'm not unhappy to have both DVD editions and if I was going to re-watch would probably choose the BFI. *** RE: the Criterion - I don't think the image quality is up to par with say Siodmak's The Killers or Fuller's Pick-up on South Street, two other strong Criterion noir DVDs from the same period, but it is very good nonetheless. Heavy contrast and a notch below on the sharpness scale (for Criterion that is!). At times it shows excessive grain. Big nod to Glenn Erickson's commentary - top notch stuff from a fellow DVD reviewer. Great extras, great packaging, great subtitles - hey it's Criterion!.. and we thank goodness for their existence everyday! out of |
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Recommended Reading in
Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
The
Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir
by
Foster Hirsch
Somewhere
in the Night: Film Noir and the American City
by Nicholas Christopher
Pretty Gold Region FREE -
Criterion Collection - Spine #274 -
Region
'A'
Blu-ray
2)
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2)
BFI - Region 2 - PAL SECOND
Shades of Noir: A Reader
by Joan Copjec
The Art of Noir : The Posters and Graphics from the
Classic Era of Film Noir
by Eddie Muller
The Little Black and White Book of Film Noir:
Quotations from Films of the 40's and 50's
by Peg Thompson, Saeko Usukawa
Film Noir
by Alain Silver and Paul Duncan
Film Noir Guide: 745 Films of the Classic Era,
1940-1959
by Michael F. Keaney
Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir
by Foster Hirsch
Box
Cover
Distribution
Criterion Collection - Spine # 274 - Region 1- NTSC
BFI - Region 2 - PAL
BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Wild Side - Region 'B' - Blu-ray