While the City Sleeps

While the City Sleeps, a gripping noir film from 1956, boasts an impressive ensemble cast led by Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, and George Sanders. The film, directed by the ever-capable Fritz Lang, expertly marries suspense and drama, underpinning its narrative with a social commentary that makes it much more than a standard crime film.

Set in the bustling cityscape of New York, the movie zooms in on the nerve center of the Kyne Media Empire, a news organization thrown into chaos following the death of its magnate leader. When the young, inexperienced owner, Walter Kyne Jr. (Vincent Price), steps into his father's shoes, he is instantly confronted with the daunting task of filling a void left behind by his powerful father. In a surprising move, he decides to create a new position—executive director—to manage the conglomerate's substantial assets.

The ensuing narrative core of While the City Sleeps plays out as a deeply layered and intense corporate power play. Kyne, instead of filling the executive director position based on merit, retrieves a strategy from his father's playbook and pits the three top managers against each other in a ruthless competition. The first one to solve the ongoing case of the Lipstick Killer, who has been making timely headlines, will be the winner, and thus attain the exhaustive responsibilities, power, money, and prestige that comes with the position.

The trio includes the canny and relentless Jon Day Griffith (Thomas Mitchell), the broadcasting manager; Mark Loving (George Sanders), Kyne's smooth-talking Wire Service chief; and Harry Kritzer (James Craig), the dark-horse Chief of Photography. As they all vie for the coveted executive director role, Dana Andrews brilliantly assumes the role of Edward Mobley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning star reporter, who becomes an unwitting pawn in this sinister game of thrones.

Mobley, a rough-around-the-edges journalist famed for his methodical approach and crusading spirit, is reluctant to partake in the sensationalist spectacle. He, however, finds himself embroiled in the chase for the Lipstick Killer more by accident than design, and driven more by his professional commitment than by the maneuvering for the executive position. His engagement with the case takes on a personal edge when he tries to shield his love interest, Nancy Liggett (Sally Forrest), the company's head secretary, from becoming the next target of the serial killer.

Rhonda Fleming plays Dorothy Kyne, the estranged wife of the young Walter Kyne, who discovers the power struggle at the heart of her husband's company. Intrigued, she penetrates the outward machismo of the news world, subtly asserting her influence. Through her, the film examines the patriarchal nature of the corporate world and implicitly critiques it.

Fritz Lang, renowned for his mastery over film noir and crime genre movies, ensures that While the City Sleeps never loses touch with its primary genre - the whodunit mystery. The narrative doesn't stray far from the Lipstick Killer, constantly working to highlight the contrast between the sordid details of the gruesome crime and the petty power play within Kyne Media Empire.

The movie excels in its execution of suspenseful scenes, creating a tense atmosphere that pervades the entire tale. Given its emphasis on character and setting, The City never feels stylized or contrived; instead, it delivers realism punctuated by moments of high anxiety and ever-lurking danger. This ability to juxtapose the sinister underbelly of an urban landscape with the ostensible civility and sophistication of a newsroom makes While the City Sleeps a compelling watch.

As the movie’s title suggests, most of the action unfolds under the cover of darkness, both metaphorically and literally, emphasizing a thematic undercurrent of immorality abiding by night while everyday life persists during the day.

In a world where personal ambition clouds ethical boundaries, and media can be a tool of manipulation, While the City Sleeps offers an acutely observed portrayal of human nature and society. It serves both as an insightful commentary on the media industry's conduct and as a suspenseful crime thriller.

Emerging from the golden age of cinema, While the City Sleeps is a hallmark of film noir that continues to impress all fans of the genre. With its standout performances, assured direction, and its provocative exploration of power and corruption, it remains a significant addition to Fritz Lang's diverse filmography.