SPECIAL FEATURE: DVD Review: While The City Sleeps

Film: While The City Sleeps
Release date: 27th September 2010
Certificate: PG
Running time: 100 mins
Director: Fritz Lang
Starring: Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming , George Sanders, Howard Duff, Ida Lupino
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Studio: Exposure
Format: DVD
Country: USA

This is an English-Language release.

A legend in the world of film noir, Austrian filmmaker Fritz Lang has been dubbed the Master of Darkness for his contributions to the genre. After emigrating to America, Lang’s films took a turn away from his expressionist roots but not necessarily for the worst. While The City Sleeps is the perfect example why.

A who’s who of 1950s cinema is recruited to act out Casey Robinson’s interwoven screenplay of murder, mystery and marriage.

At the centre of all the action, and tying together every strand of this plot is a newspaper office. The aptly timed death of a young lady in New York City convinces Kyne (Robert Warwick) that priority coverage of this murder mystery will ensure his publication beats the competition and simultaneously throw women into panic. Minutes after dubbing the murderer (John Barrymore Jr.) “The Lipstick Killer” Kyne passes away, leaving it up to his son and sole heir Walter (Vincent Price) to run the newspaper and continue the search for the murderer.

As anticipated by everyone at the paper, Walter doesn’t know where to begin, or how to approach his new role as boss in the publishing industry, and quickly concocts a plan which will relieve him of his responsibilities whilst maintaining the credit.

With the newly established role of executive director up for grabs, Walter challenges three of his department heads to crack the case, with the first man to the post being offered the job. News editor Griffith (Thomas Mitchell), wire-service chief Loving (George Sanders) and news pictures head Kritzer (James Craig) scramble to find resources and allies in the office in a bid break the news first. High flying reporter Ed Mobley (Dana Andrews) turns down Walter’s offer opting instead to focus his attention on wooing Nancy Liggett (Sally Forrest), who happens to be Loving’s secretary.

A web of alliances are made across the office, with Mobley teaming up with Griffith and sharing his close police contacts, Loving recruits famed female columnist Mildred Donner (Ida Lupino) and while Kritzer appears to be tackling the case solo, he indulges in an affair with Walter’s wife, Dorothy (Rhonda Fleming).

The glory of unravelling the mystery quickly consumes each journalist: Loving instructs Donner to seduce Mobley in an attempt infiltrate his investigation, and, after a weak Mobley drunkenly complies, he sets his sights on using new fiancé Liggett as live bait for the murderer…


Overshadowed by his own past works, Metropolis and M, Lang really did produce a classic with While The City Sleeps. The allegorical undertones of media manipulation and moral panic this story presents are relevant enough to be a modern day box office smash. Lang combines crime and its coverage with the executive director position acting as the binding agent for the two - showing how news stories are used to sell papers rather than spread information or caution.

The real genius of Lang’s imagining is the main setting - the office - and the way he uses it to prolong suspense for the characters. Entirely made of glass walls, the office allows the three competitors and Mobley to keep a close eye on each other. It creates the illusion that nothing is secret; Mobley can watch Liggett squirm as he calls her while Loving is watching over, and in this office appearances are everything. The characters are subjected to frustration in that although they can see what is happening right underneath their noses, they cannot hear it. It’s not just the audience who are privileged to a little inside information; the characters are teased into a false sense of knowing.

Robinson provides a strong script, allowing for brilliantly sharp exchanges between the lead characters. The dialogue is as fast paced as the action in the office surrounding the hunt, and lines seem to bounce off the actors nonchalantly. Where other film noirs from this era can seem somewhat stilted and forced, conversation in this film flows naturally and believably thanks to polished performances from the entire cast. Even the barman at their after work hang out, The Dell, manages to interact with the main characters with a little more punch than your standard yes-mam-serve-a-drink-step-out-of-shot bar tender. Andrews delivers an endearingly cocky performance in reaction to Forrest’s almost blasé attitude towards her love interest.

While this film does provide a few twists and turns to keep the audience interested and anticipating the next possible murder, it lacks excitement at the crucial moment. As a chase scene ensues right at the climax of the film, it leaves the audience wanting to jump into the screen and catch the murderer themselves. Dragged out to possibly try and sustain tension, Lang’s tactics seem a little desperate, and more rat and mouse than cat and mouse.


A gem of a film unfortunately lost amongst the critical disdain for Lang’s later career. While The City Sleeps offers a modest glimpse at the world of film noir and Hollywood’s star system and is a definite feather in Lang’s cap. JHA