WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS

US, 1956, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, Howard Duff, Thomas Mitchell, George Sanders, Vincent Price, John Drew Barrymore, Sally Forrest, Ida Lupino, James Craig, Mae Marsh.
Directed by Fritz Lang.

While The City Sleeps is one of the later, thrillers of veteran German director Fritz Lang. Working in Germany in the twenties and making such interesting science fiction films as Metropolis, as well as the films about criminals Doctor Mabuse and M, he had a very interesting career in America. The screenplay is by Casey Robinson the Australian writer of so many thrillers of the forties and fifties. Within its brief running time, the film tries to show a young killer, the workings of a daily newspaper and life as well as show the characters engaged in this world. It is of interest, though fairly superficial and seemingly slight.

1. The appeal of this kind of thriller, the background of the newspaper world? The expectations from the title?

2. Fritz Lang and his German background, time in Hollywood, interpretation of the city and crime? The genre of the thriller, the newspaper world, the executives’ world? Fifties conventions and styles, musical score, black and white photography?

3. The impact of the initial murder and its violence and ugliness? The police and their work while the city sleeps? The respomibillty of newspapers, the ambitions of newspaper men for scoops and stories? Episodes like this and crime detection being used for executive politics? A lurid introduction? The luridness of crime compared with the luridness of business? How well did the screenplay combine these elements for audience interest, insight?

4. The gallery of stars from the fifties, their relish in interpreting their parts, the wisecracking and crisp dialogue, the melodramatics?

5. How sensational was the material? How sensationalist? The overtones of pulp crime and story? The overtones of serious analysis?

6. The importance of the murder prologue, the creation of atmosphere, the luridness of the lipstick identification, the killer's relationship with his mother? The papers treatment of these murders? The television treatment? Ed Mobley and his collaboration with the police, his using of Nancy as bait? The irony of trapping Dorothy in her infidelity? The interrelationship of the crimes and their moral comment on each other?

7. The brief portrait of the murderer, his malice and viciousness, his relationship with his mother, his boasting, his response to the newspaper headlines, his being trapped and attacking Dorothy after taking the bait? His confession? The way he was used? As the headline for an extra and an exclusive?

8. Mobley as hero? The background of his Pulitzer Prize, television program? Amon Kyne and his favourite son? His qualifications, style? His presence at Kyne's death and the information given? His skill at his job? His attitude towards Walter Kyne, his being caught up in the politics with Loving. Griffith, Kritzer? His attitude towards power and saying he did not want it? His relationship with the various men? His love for Nancy and yet his using her? Risking her? The encounter with Mildred and Nancy jealousy? Friendship with Kaufman and the pursuit of the killer especially in the underground? An ambiguous hero, an ambiguous American hero? The final confrontation with Kyne, regaining Nancy’s respect? The American dream and his being offered the editorship?

9. George Sanders and the portrait of Mark Loving? His suave manner, ambition, rivalry, flirting with Nancy, liaison with Mildred? His operating the information line? His deals with T.V. networks? His self congratulatory tone? His using of Mildred for Mobley? The irony of his complacent telephone calls as Griffith was overtaking him with the extra edition? Inevitability of his losing?

10. The contrast with Griffith and his hard work, ruthlessness, using Mobley and the situation? A newspaper man and the victory that he gained? The pace of his getting the paper out while Loving was on the phone?

11. The contrast with Harry as playboy, photographer? Liaison with Dorothy and its complications? The irony of his being sent abroad?

12. Mildred within this world, the hard and ambitious type, tough, allowing herself to be used by Loving? The break that she got by discovering Dorothy and Harry? Her success on this invasion of privacy?

13. Vincent Price as Walter Kyne - the playboy. despised by his staff, his srailing ruthlessness, the bait of competitiveness, his running of the paper, his liking for the paper? His relationship with Dorothy - and her infidelity? His hearing the attack by Ed? His offering him the position?

14. Nancy as heroine. a conventional girl in the office, working for Loving, love for Ed, the quality of their scenes together, her agreeing to be used as bait, the horror of the experience, jealousy of Mildred? The happy ending?

15. The film's attention to the detail of the running of a paper the empire? A particularly American portrait of success?

16. Audience interest in politics, executives, deals, people using each other, cut throat methods?

17. The portrait of the American city? A presentation of standard American values of the fifties?