Just as we stated about Criterion's new Brute Force Blu-ray, in our comparison HERE: It looks much different from the Arrow 1080P of 6-years previous. There is more information in the frame - on all four edges. The image is both 'lighter' and the 1.37:1 makes faces appears marginally wider on the Criterion. The Criterion's improved brightness shows more detail and the image is smoother - with the perception of being softer. Damage marks (see close-up of Dorothy Hart's face) have been removed. I think I prefer the darker look of the Arrow, but overall the Criterion 4K-restored image is the superior HD appearance looking richer and more film-like in-motion.

For the audio Criterion also use a linear PCM track (mono) in the original English language (24-bit). I don't notice much difference in the audio; effects, dialogue, or via the excellent score by Miklós Rózsa (Criss Cross, The Killers, The Lost Weekend, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Double Indemnity) and the Criterion has optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray disc.

Criterion duplicate their 2007 DVD supplements. "In the commentary screenwriter Malvin Wald informs us, twice in the first 2 minutes alone, that The Naked City was the precursor the Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and later copied by TV shows like NYPD Blue and Dragnet. He makes comparisons to the O.J. Simpson trial. He talks quite paced and deliberately. He does relate some interesting facts such as the genesis of the film's title. I think I got more out of the 28 minute Dana Polan (author of Power and Paranoia: History, Narrative, and the American Cinema, 1940-1950) interview as he talks of the juxtaposed relationship of Film Noir to The Naked City and its supportive nature of normalcy and resistance to deviant behaviour. He talks briefly of the voyeuristic feel of many 40's films - peeking through windows as it were. James Sanders (author of Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies) gives a great 26 minute talk on the film covering many production points with information on Mark Hellinger and many of the buildings used in the film. He is very knowledgeable and talks at quite a clip squeezing in many salient points - I hope Criterion bring him back for further supplements. There is a stills gallery and an artistic liner notes booklet with an essay by Luc Sante and production notes from producer Mark Hellinger to Dassin."

Another nice Blu-ray package from Criterion for another Essential 'Jules Dassin' Noir with a 4K-restored appearance, the previous but still valuable commentary also the Polan and Sanders' pieces. Double-dipping would be dependent on your love of the 'Dark Cinema', the director or this revered title. 

***

ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (October 2014): This looks pretty good. I love the textures prevalent in the higher resolution. It has the same light scratches and marks as the Criterion.  The film is shot with a fair amount of 'stock'-looking footage of the residents of NYC and it has varying quality. The HD picks them up with a little more prominence but they are few and far between. Conversely, they detail is also heighted as are the black levels. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate and looks fabulous in-motion.

the audio is transferred via linear PCM mono track. The sparsely utilized score is by Frank Skinner and the iconic Miklós Rózsa (The Lost Weekend, The Killers, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Double Indemnity). Leaning to a vérité-documentary style there isn't much in the way of music-infused drama (it's seems sporadic but intense when used) - excepting the ongoing narration and the conclusion. It does sound crisp and deep in the uncompressed. Arrow add optional English subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray disc.  

Arrow add the 'deliberately paced' audio commentary by screenwriter Malvin Wald as found on the Criterion 2007 DVD. Plus they have 52-minutes of footage of Jules Dassin, interviewed with Bruce Goldstein, at Los Angeles County Museum of Art in April 2004, in which the director discusses his career (sound distortion is inherent in the original recording). New York and The Naked City - a, 40-minute, personalized account of NYC on the big screen by critic and lifelong New Yorker Amy Taubin - recorded in August 2014. The Hollywood Ten is a 15-minute, 1950 documentary short, on the ten filmmakers blacklisted from Hollywood for their refusal to name names before the House of Un-American Activities, including The Naked City's screenwriter, Albert Maltz. There is a gallery of production stills by infamous photojournalist Weegee, theatrical trailers for The Naked City, Brute Force and Rififi. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring the original poster and newly commissioned artwork by Vladimir Zimakov including a collector's booklet containing new writing on the film by Alastair Philips, Barry Salt and Sergio Angelini, illustrated with original production stills.

A beautiful Blu-ray package from Arrow (a/v and extras - plus choice of film!) - an easy purchase, IMO. Our highest recommendation!