Jules Dassin's first European film after being blacklisted by Hollywood, Night and the City is a bleak affair that has to be one of the darker film noir's to come from the genre's classic period. Lead character Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) is a small time hustler who thinks he can take over London's lucrative wrestling scene by becoming it's top promoter. He's a largely unsympathetic character who's willing to hustle and steal from anyone to get ahead. It's to Widmark's credit that he manages to make the viewer care about the character at all. The rest of the characters are a collection of underworld types who -- with a couple exceptions -- are just as unlikeable as Fabian. Dassin was obviously angry about what happened to him in America and it comes through in the film clear as day. The result is a solid noir that is just a step below classic status.
Rating: 4
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