I thought John Barrymore, Jr. was very good as the "Lipstick Killer." His deep set eyes gave him a very creepy vibe. I thought Andrews was great as the hard drinking news anchor. It seemed like he was drunk throughout most of the film. I also liked Fleming. She was gorgeous and even though her character was somewhat on the peripheral of the action throughout most of the film, I liked how she was dragged into the central plot at the end of the film and it was her storyline that affected the overall action. I also liked Lupino's star columnist character. I loved how sassy she was and how it wasn't beneath her to sell people out if she could get a story out of it. Sanders was excellent and he cracked me up when in lieu of working, he spent much of the second half of the film celebrating his assumed job promotion. Price was good as the boss of Andrews and Sanders, though I'm always tripped up by his not having a mustache. He looks like a completely different person without it.

While this is the sort of film that will not appeal to everyone (particularly teens and action film fans),this is a very well made drama from famed director, Fritz Lang. Unfortunately for Lang, his success directing American films was very limited and he eventually moved back to Europe soon after completing WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS. It's a shame, really, because many of his films (such as SCARLET STREET and this one) were darned good films but weren't blockbusters and weren't received too well by the public.

This film stars one of my favorite actors, Dana Andrews, though he is certainly NOT the entire show--as he has many fine supporting actors to make this movie about the future of a media empire quite interesting. Towards the very beginning of the film, the owner of a news wire service, newspaper and TV news empire dies--leaving the future to his ne'er do-well son (Vincent Price). Instead of picking a man to head this organization, he deliberately pushes these men to try to undermine and outdo each other to garner his favor! At the same time, there is a plot involving a serial killer which soon takes up most of the film's focus--particularly Dana Andrews'. How all this is worked out is pretty interesting and seemed pretty realistic. While not a great film, it was very good and is worth your time if you'd like a more cerebral type film as opposed to an action or suspense film (though there is quite a bit of both towards the very end).

I don't think that While the City Sleeps is among Fritz Lang's best, like M or Metropolis. However, despite a rather tepid final chase sequence and Rhonda Fleming coming across as rather bland, it is an interesting film. It looks good, with the cinematography excellent even in the final chase, and the score has some hauntingly atmospheric themes. The dialogue is arch and sharp, with a cynical yet involving tone, and the story even in the more talky moments, and there are many of those, is compelling with some tension. Lang's direction is accomplished as are the cast. Dana Andrews is solid in the lead, while Ida Lupino oozes sex appeal and Vincent Price is wonderfully snide and unprincipled. George Sanders brings an oily if not exactly subtle nature to his role, Thomas Mitchell is again memorable and there is also a menacing performance from John Barrymore. Overall, a solid and interesting film, though not the best work that everybody here has done. 8/10 Bethany Cox