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Harry Fabian (Richard Widmark) is an American hustler trying to make a name for himself in London. Fabian's the sort of guy who's always looking for a new way to stick his hand in somebody else's back pocket, smiling, laughing and dispensing empty flattery as a distraction. He has an on-and-off romance of sorts with Mary Bristol (Gene Tierney), a nightclub owner who disapproves of Harry's scheming tendencies.

One day, Harry discovers what he believes to be a golden opportunity. He witnesses an argument between legendary wrestler Gregorius the Great (wrestling legend Stanislaus Zbyszko) and Gregorius' son Kristo (Herbert Lom) which reveals that Gregorius is unhappy with his son's methods of wrestling promotion. Kristo essentially runs the whole wrestling industry in London, and anyone who attempts to take a piece of that market is asking for trouble. However, Harry becomes convinced that he can get away with it if he manages to secure Gregorius' support...

Director: Jules Dassin
Cast: Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, Googie Withers, Hugh Marlowe, Herbert Lom, Mike Mazurki
Country: UK, USA
Genre: Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery, Sport, Thriller

BD50 + 2xDVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:35:50 + 01:40:46 | 44.1 Gb + 13.2 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Audio Commentary - in this audio commentary, Glenn Erickson, author of The Film Noir Reader essay on Night and the City and editor of the website DVD Savant, discusses the novel by Gerald Kersh that inspired Jules Dassin to direct Night and the City, the shooting script by Jo Eisinger, some of the major differences between the director's preferred American Version of the film and the longer British Version, Gene Tierney's somewhat underwhelming performance, the key conflicts in the film and its spectacular visual style, the careers of the principal actors, etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2004 and initially appeared on the DVD release of Night and the City.

• British Version - director Jules Dassin was blacklisted in Hollywood while shooting Night and the City in England. Later on, two different versions of the film were created, both with different soundtracks, and featuring different footage. The director was not involved in the editing sessions, but preferred the American Version. Presented here is the longer British Version of the film (2K transfer). In English, not subtitled. (English Dolby Digital 1.0/1080p/101 min).

• Two Versions, Two Scores - in this archival documentary, music scholar Chris Husted, who in 2003 wrote an essay for the soundtrack release of Jules Dassin's Night and the City, discusses some of the major differences between Franz Waxman (American Version) and Benjamin Frankel's (British Version) scores. Included in the documentary are various comparisons highlighting the differences in select sequences from the film. The documentary was produced in 2005. In English, not subtitled. (24 min, 1080i).

• Jules Dassin - in this archival interview, director Jules Dassin discusses his blacklisting in Hollywood, the shooting of Night and the City in London, the various locations seen in the film (and specifically the fact that contrary to claims from the local press these locations were real), his interactions with the cast (with some fantastic comments about actor Stanislaus Zbyszko), the casting of Gene Tierney, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2004. In English, not subtitled. (18 min, 1080i).

• L'invite du dimanche - presented here is an excerpt from an episode of the French television show L'invite du dimanche in which director Jules Dassin discusses with interviewer Paul Seban the Hollywood system (and specifically how stars were treated by studio executives and producers), his work with Joan Crawford and Conrad Veidt, the unusual relationship between directors and producers at the time, McCarthyism and its impact on the arts and his career, Elia Kazan's statement before HUAC, etc. The episode was broadcast on French TV on June 14, 1970. In French, with optional English subtitles. (26 min, 1080i).

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Night and the City. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).