The Naked City (1948)

About The Naked City

The Naked City is a classic American film noir directed by Jules Dassin. The story revolves around the police investigation that unfolds after a young model named Jean Dexter is found drowned in her bathtub. The primary detectives, Lieutenant Dan Muldoon and his young assistant, Jimmy Halloran, work their way through twisted clues and a roster of suspects to unravel the truth.

Making / Production

Directed by Jules Dassin under the banner of Universal Pictures, the movie was a pioneering example of a genre, combining elements of documentary with traditional Hollywood storytelling. The film was notable for its extensive on-location shooting in the streets of New York, eschewing sound stages and backlots for actual cityscapes. It was produced by Mark Hellinger, who also provided the narration.

Actors

• Barry Fitzgerald as Lieutenant Dan Muldoon - Displayed a commendable portrayal of a seasoned detective.
• Don Taylor as Jimmy Halloran - Played the young detective out to crack his first major case.
• Howard Duff as Frank Niles - Depicts a deceptive character with an engaging performance.
• Ted de Corsia as Willie Garzah - Brilliantly embodied the menacing villain.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was among the first to be shot entirely on location.
• The title of the movie is derived from an old saying: "There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them."

Awards

The Naked City won two Academy Awards in 1949. The film won for Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing. It was also nominated for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story.

Quotes

• "There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them."
• "Every murder is the tale of a city."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score was composed by Miklós Rózsa and Frank Skinner.
• The opening theme has been widely recognized as a classic representation of noir-era filmmaking.