WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS

1956
100m
 










 Aspect Ratio (Theatrical):

RKO-Scope (SuperScope) - 2.35:1

  Aspect Ratio (Disc Transfer):

1.66:1



    



 





Image Entertainment / Turner
#ID7012TU
$49.98

Film Credits

Screenplay by: Casey Robinson

Directed by: Fritz Lang

Starring: Dana Andrews, Ida Lupino, Rhonda Fleming, George Sanders, Vincent Price, Thomas Mitchell, Sally Forrest, Howard Duff, James Craig, John Barrymore Jr., Mae Marsh

 

Review

Don't you hate it when you look forward to seeing a film you've supposedly never seen before, and it turns out that you really have? And wouldn't you know it, that's exactly what happened to me with While the City Sleeps - I swore I'd never seen the film before, but, well... In this case, however, the film is such that I didn't mind renewing my acquaintance with this film-noir treasure.

At first glance, While the City Sleeps apparently concerns the activities of a certain young man with a penchant for murdering beautiful young women (the newspapers have dubbed him "The Lipstick Killer"). While that might seem enough for a film in itself, it's only the tip of the iceberg. In actuality, the film is about several newspaper reporters competing against the local police to be the first to learn the killer's identity. Encouraged by the offer of a top job position courtesy of shrewd and annoying new editor Vincent Price, reporters Dana Andrews, Thomas Mitchell and George Sanders do whatever it takes, no matter what, to track the killer down. The excellent supporting cast members include Rhonda Fleming, Howard Duff, Sally Forrest, John Barrymore, Jr., James Craig and Ida Lupino. The storyline is a deft mix of mystery, drama and satire, and the numerous plot twists and outstanding veteran cast should keep you entertained and on your toes.

Released by Image/Turner, While the City Sleeps was filmed in the 2.35:1 RKO-Scope process (also known as SuperScope), but has only been letterboxed with an approx. 1.66:1 aspect ratio. Although most of the action generally fits well within the discs smaller frame size, director Lang's intended compositions suffer. As for the quality of the print, it's a shame that better source materials weren't used for this transfer. As it standard now, the quality can be considered no better than "average" - it's not bad, but it's not great, either. The image is always on the soft side, contrasts are fair, and a minor layer of grain is readily apparent. Splices, speckles and some vertical scratches appear over the opening scenes, and indeed such blemishes appear throughout the remainder of the film, though none are quite as severe as those in the opening segments. The CX-encoded digital Western Electric mono soundtrack is fine, but background hiss is always evident as well. The disc was pressed at Kurare (Japan) and contains 13 unlisted chapter markers.

 

 
Review by the Jeff Krispow
Originally Published in "Pond Scum" #28

Original Review: 03/92
Last Updated: 04/24/97