Night and the Noir City Film Festival

[Christa Faust]

I attended the last night of Noir City at the Egyptian to catch one of my all time favorites NIGHT AND THE CITY on the big screen, along with a rare Ida Lupino melodrama called WOMAN IN HIDING. What was particularly interesting about the screening of NIGHT was that it was a British print. I have the Criterion DVD, which I watch compulsively, and right away I noticed substantial differences. Familiar scenes were gone and new scenes were added. Nothing major, just little things here and there. Even though I missed the things that were cut (particularly the scene where Helen tells Nosseross how much he disgusts her) and the editing itself was choppy and not very well done, it was fascinating to see the alternate scenes. Alan Rode told me that this cut was done without director Dassin’s knowledge or permission. I wonder why… Now I’ll have to go back to the DVD and sift through the supplements to see if there is any information related to this British version.

WOMAN IN HIDING on the other hand was pretty silly and more straight thriller/melodrama than real Film Noir with it’s sweet, innocent heroine and happy ending. Still it was worth it for Peggy Dow as the luscious and trampy gun wielding other woman.

Oh and tonight I will be attending the LATFOB kickoff party at the Mystery Bookstore. I really should be working…

[Donna Moore]

Oh, I am so going to have to come for Noir City one year. Enjoy the party!