Review of City That Never Sleeps (1953) by Art S — 12 Apr 2017

It's Chicago actually. Gig Young is a cop who is fed up with his life - he plans to ditch his wife for a stripper, quit the force, and move to California. In order to get the dough to do so, he throws in with corrupt lawyer Edward Arnold, promising to "arrest" bad magician William Talman and drive him to Indiana where he is wanted for a more serious crime.

Things do go pear-shaped but watching over him is the "spirit of the city" Chill Wills who takes over as his partner when his real one is home sick with an earache. Wills doesn't prevent any crimes/murders but he does remind Young about the importance of his job and of the police in society.

They do some helpful things. The film is a true noir, shot on location in high contrast black and white, showing dark alleys, a strip club, corrupt rich guys, bitchy Marie Windsor, bad mistakes, and depressing violence.

Although the leads are a bit ho-hum, Talman made a great noir baddie (see also Armed Car Robbery, 1950, and The Hitch-hiker, 1953) before he graduated to Perry Mason's nemesis (district attorney Hamilton Burger).

Worth a look.