Cry of the City (1948)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(256 ratings)

The opening scene of Robert Siodmak's grim film noir depicts police lieutenants Candella (Victor Mature) and Collins (Fred Clark) observing wounded cop killer Martin Rome (Richard Conte) receive last rites. Though Rome recovers, he still must elude Candella and Collins in his desperate attempt to… More The opening scene of Robert Siodmak's grim film noir depicts police lieutenants Candella (Victor Mature) and Collins (Fred Clark) observing wounded cop killer Martin Rome (Richard Conte) receive last rites. Though Rome recovers, he still must elude Candella and Collins in his desperate attempt to escape his fate. Rome has two visitors in the hospital: his girlfriend, Teena (Debra Paget), who goes into hiding, and Niles (Berry Kroeger), a crooked lawyer. Niles tries to bribe Rome to take a jewel theft and homicide rap for a client of his since Rome is facing the electric chair anyway. When Rome refuses, Niles threatens to frame Teena as the client's female accomplice. Worried that Candella might find Teena, Rome breaks out of jail and goes to Niles' office to accept the offer, but he actually plans to leave the country with Teena. When Niles reneges, Rome kills him, but not before learning the accomplice's identity and discovering the stolen jewels in the lawyer's safe. Rome finds the accomplice, Rose Given (Hope Emerson), and offers to trade the jewelry for the means to leave the country. She agrees, and they arrange a meeting in the subway, but Rome informs Candella of the plan. When the police arrive, Candella is shot, Rose is arrested, and Rome escapes to meet up with Teena in a church. As he is trying to convince Teena to run away with him, a wounded Candella shows up and tells Teena how Rome uses people and that everyone who helped in his escape will be paying a price. Teena rejects Rome, and he runs again, only to be shot down by Candella. The moral order is ultimately restored, but no one has been left unscarred. ~ Steve Press, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Robert Siodmak
Written By: Henry Edward Helseth, Richard Murphy
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1948 Wide
Studio: Century Fox

Critic Reviews

A.H. Weiler, New York Times
Cry of the City may be strident at times but its message, story and players are thoroughly effective.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Splendid on-location photography by Sersen and top performances from Mature, Conte, and the wicked Emerson make this a film noir must.
, Time Out
Riveting example of Siodmak's skill not only in transforming indifferent material, but in giving the feel of studio noir to location shooting.
, Film4
The supporting cast is mainly wasted, with interesting characters quickly sidelined in favour of an impossibly complicated story, while a plot strand involving stolen diamonds just doesn't work.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Top notch film noir.

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Cast

            Victor Mature as Lt. Candella

            Richard Conte as Martin Rome

            Fred Clark as Lt. Collins

            Shelley Winters as Brenda Martingale

            Debra Paget as Teena Riconti

            Betty Garde as Miss Pruett

            Berry Kroeger as Niles

            Hope Emerson as Rose Given

            Tommy Cook as Tony Rome

            Roland Winters as Ledbetter

            Walter S. Baldwin as Orvy

            June Storey as Miss Boone

            Tito Vuolo as Papa Roma

            Mimi Aguglia as Mama Roma

            Dolores Castle as Rosa

            Thomas Ingersoll as Priest

            Vito Scotti as Julio

            Konstantin Shayne as Dr. Veroff

            Howard Freeman as Sullivan

            Charles Tannen as Intern

            Oliver Blake as Caputo

            Antonio Filauri as Martelli

            Joan Miller as Vera

            Ken Christy as Loomis

            Emil Rameau as Dr. Niklas

            Eddie Parks as Mike

            Charles Wagenheim as Counterman

            Kathleen Howard as Miss Pruett's mother

            Robert Adler as Man

            Harry Carter as Elevator operator

            Davison Clark as Mounted policeman

            Ruth Clifford as Nurse

            Ed Hinton as Cop

            Robert Karnes as Intern

            George Magrill as Cop

            Jane Nigh as Nurse

            Harry Seymour as Man

            George Melford as Barber

            Tom Moore as Doctor

            George Andre Beranger as Barber

            Michael J. Sheridan as Detective

            John Cortay as Policeman
See full cast

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