Review of Cry of the City (1948) by Johannes J — 18 May 2010

With a great screenplay by Richard Murphy and Ben Hecht, this Noir stands out in just about every other aspect as well. Richard Conte is a sympathetic hood hunted by Victor Mature, who plays a conflicted police Lt. here. His role is not unlike that in Kiss of Death, but with a degree less unambiguous sympathy to balance with Conte's more family-oriented sociopath.

Both leads are excellent, as is the supporting cast. Winters, Betty Garde and Debra Paget are great, but Hope Emerson plays the scheming Rose with terrific menace. Asphyxiation fetishists will greatly enjoy the lingering focus on her giant hands in a particularly fun scene with Mature. Nice NY location cinematography by Lloyd Ahern and a spectacular Alfred Newman score round things out. This is available in several versions, but badly deserving of the Criterion treatment.