Watching this was like watching a really, really great episode of Law and Order. Given that it spawned an apparently great New York cop show, I suppose it could be the progenitor of all subsequent TV cop shows. It’s certainly a lot more laid back and humorous than most noir or crime films of the era, despite the unpleasantness of the crimes, and it takes a special pleasure in the locations and local characters. Barry Fitzgerald is excellent as the avuncular, prune-faced, Irish lead cop.
What I learned from this film:
- In 1948 swimming in the East River was not a sign of mental illness.
Apr 28th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Caught the last 15 minutes of this on Turner Classic Movies last week and it looked gorgeous.