City That Never Sleeps (1953)

Set during one night in Chicago, a married cop (Gig Young) struggles with the pressure of being a policeman while having an affair with a stripper (Mala Powers). Meanwhile, a crooked attorney (Edward Arnold) plots to have his blackmailing accomplice (William Talman) run out of town. But before the night is over, several of its characters will be killed. Directed by John H. Auer (HELL'S HALF ACRE), this is a fairly interesting crime melodrama that never quite coalesces into anything more than a routine B thriller. Young's cop really isn't all that interesting and the film is irritating in its sexism and inconsistencies. Young's wife (Paula Raymond) makes more money than him so she blames herself for the marriage problems and quits her job to bolster his ego. Really? Powers as Young's mistress is portrayed as a hard hearted broad but suddenly at the film's end, she does a 360 degree turnaround and becomes noble! The film also dabbles in mysticism. Does the character Chill Wills plays exist or was he a fantasy of Young's? The cinematography by John L. Russell (PSYCHO) is excellent, very atmospheric and full of noir-ish shadings. With Marie Windsor, Tom Poston, Wally Cassell (who steals the movie) and Bunny Kacher.