City of Silent Men comes so close to being a "model" "B" picture that it's a downright shame it just misses the mark. The plot revolves around a group of ex-convicts who try to start life anew by relocating in a small town under assumed names. The mayor of the town welcomes the former cons with open arms, helping them re-open a dormant canning factory and encouraging them to hire other reformed criminals. Alas, the bigoted local newspaper editor stirs up public hostility towards the new cannery and its owners, but everything is resolved happily when the ex-cons are awarded a defense contract. City of Silent Men could easily have lapsed into pointless melodrama, but the sincerity of the performers and the strength of Joseph Hoffman's screenplay keep the events on an even and realistic keel. All City of Silent Men lacks is a decent budget, but that's to be expected in a PRC Picture from this period. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi