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Cry of the City

Play trailer Poster for Cry of the City 1948 1h 35m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Martin Rome (Richard Conte) is a cop killer and jewel thief who escapes from prison, with two police detectives, Candella (Victor Mature) and Collins (Fred Clark), hot on his trail. Not only is Rome wanted for murder, he is now also accused of masterminding a major jewel robbery. On the run, Rome is helped by a sleazy lawyer (Berry Kroeger) and two girlfriends, Teena (Debra Paget) and Brenda (Shelley Winters). Rome's plan: recover the hidden jewels from his lawyer and leave the country.

Critics Reviews

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David Jenkins Little White Lies 04/23/2015
5/5
The beauty of Siodmak's film is how it objectively observes how a man acts with the spectre of death on his shoulder. Go to Full Review
Kate Muir The Times (UK) 04/16/2015
4/5
In luscious blacks and whites, this film noir thriller takes place in Little Italy, New York, and is a precursor to the cinema of Scorsese, with a touch of Hitchcock in its affectionate embrace of man's dark side. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 04/16/2015
4/5
The sequences on the rainy, neon-lit streets of downtown Manhattan are brought off with exhilarating flair and the two men's closeup confrontations have power and punch. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 02/19/2021
3/4
...a deliberately-paced drama that grows more and more compelling as it unfolds... Go to Full Review
Adam Lowes CineVue 04/04/2019
4/5
Bold, uncompromising and brimming with powerful performances, Cry of the City is something of a forgotten classic Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Seanax.com 01/28/2017
The urban atmosphere of city traffic and the scuffed and worn authenticity of real storefronts and sidewalks gives the film a charge of realism but Siodmak forgoes docurealism for his beloved expressionist style. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Edward H @TinTan 2d Big fan of noir, but the "action" keeps moving, ploddingly, from one claustrophobic set to another. The depiction of Italian immigrants is laughable. Victor Mature is excellent as the cop, bad apple Ricard Conte is convincing as the crafty crook. See more Russ G @RT78760655 Dec 12 A well-made crime drama and man hunt; whether the atmospherics qualify it as a genuine film noir is open to question. It stars Richard Conte, always reliable as a heavy. The interesting casting choice is Victor Mature as the pursuer. The story, characters, and pacing will hold your interest throughout the running time. Here's a little known film that's worth the watch. See more Makemake P @RT00271288 May 14 Captivating. Wonderful storytelling. See more Sam N @RT61650855 Mar 30 A compelling noir centred on a cop and a criminal who share a childhood background but have taken very different paths. Robert Siodmak directs with assurance, creating a moody, atmospheric piece full of tension. Victor Mature gives a more nuanced performance than usual, while Richard Conte strikes a perfect balance between charisma and menace. Shelley Winters makes a memorable mid-film appearance, stealing her scene with ease. The final speech from Mature feels slightly contrived, but that’s a small flaw in an otherwise well-crafted and gripping crime drama. Cry of the City is a fine example of the genre. See more Angelo C @RT29835010 12/17/2022 New York back in the day. Love Victor Mature, believed he was a NYPD lieutenant. See more Blobbo X @Blobbo 06/29/2022 Big buildings! How much weigh wonder Blobbo. See more Read all reviews
Cry of the City

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Movie Info

Synopsis Martin Rome (Richard Conte) is a cop killer and jewel thief who escapes from prison, with two police detectives, Candella (Victor Mature) and Collins (Fred Clark), hot on his trail. Not only is Rome wanted for murder, he is now also accused of masterminding a major jewel robbery. On the run, Rome is helped by a sleazy lawyer (Berry Kroeger) and two girlfriends, Teena (Debra Paget) and Brenda (Shelley Winters). Rome's plan: recover the hidden jewels from his lawyer and leave the country.
Director
Robert Siodmak
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 29, 1948, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Oct 8, 2013
Runtime
1h 35m