Night and the City / Woman in Hiding

NIGHT AND THE CITY, 1950, 20th Century Fox, 96 min. Dir. Jules Dassin (THE NAKED CITY; BRUTE FORCE). The greatness of this film -- besides Richard Widmark's devastating portrayal of the maniacal, pathetic con man and small-time promoter Harry Fabian -- is its stubborn refusal to allow even the tiniest ray of light into Harry's headlong descent into hell. Featuring an unforgettable supporting rogue's gallery, including Googie Withers, Herbert Lom, Francis L. Sullivan, Mike Mazurki, Stanislaus Zbyszko -- and the gorgeous Gene Tierney (LAURA).

WOMAN IN HIDING, 1950, Universal, 92 min. Dir. Michael Gordon. Noir City favorite Ida Lupino gives another superb performance, playing a successful career woman who marries Mr. Wrong (Steven McNally) and finds herself desperately trying to evade his plans to dispose of her and take over the business.