TheLittleSongbird With a diverse taste in film (hopefully), spreading across all genres and all decades, crime dramas are right up my street, even the dark and gritty ones.'The City is Dark' (as credited here in the UK rather than 'Crime Wave', prefer the latter title personally) is as dark and gritty as one can get and is as far from glamorous (pretty seedy actually too), but that is what makes it the little film noir/crime drama gem it is. It isn't quite a masterpiece, but 'The City is Dark' at its best is excellent and deserves far more exposure than it's gotten. Maybe it is a little too short and it does cram in a lot in a short running time, perhaps a little too much in places. However, it is never dull and one is kept on the edge of their seat throughout.Its production values are superb, with gritty but also pretty sumptuous cinematography and suitably seedy settings. Atmospheric lighting too. The haunting score by David Buttolph adds a lot, as does the taut direction by generally under-appreciated Andre De Toth. It is interesting to hear the Gershwin brothers classic "S Wonderful" on the radio, sung by none other by Doris Day, and no despite how that sounds it's not out of place at all.Writing is tight and suspenseful with a lot of thought-provoking moments. The story is just as tense and is basically a gritty look at police methods, the criminal world and the difficulties crooks face when reforming, compellingly told.Very strong cast, with an excellent Sterling Hayden and Gene Nelson, who considering the stuff he's most famous for (dancing and musicals, completely different kettle of fish) one wouldn't expect to work at all but he does. Phyllis Kirk is good support, as is a slimy Jay Novello and the terrifying support of Ted De Corsia and Timothy Carey. A young Charles Bronson also does a good job.Overall, it is a shame that 'The City is Dark' is as underrated as it is because it really is a very good film with very little to dislike. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Spikeopath Crime Wave is directed by Andre De Toth and adapted to screenplay by Bernard Gordon, Crane Wilbur and Richard Wormser from the story "Criminal's Mark" written by John and Ward Hawkins. It stars Sterling Hayden, Gene Nelson, Phyllis Kirk, Ted de Corsia, Charles Bronson, Jay Novello and Timothy Carey. Music is by David Buttolph and cinematography by Bert Glennon. Ex-convict Steve Lacey (Nelson) finds himself reluctantly dragged into illegal activities when old criminal associates come calling and hold his wife Ellen (Kirk) hostage. Driven and unmerciful Detective Lieutenant Sims (Hayden) doesn't believe criminals can reform and goes after Steve with hard-nosed prejudice, putting the Lacey's well being in great jeopardy. Tough as old hobnail boots, Crime Wave is a noir caper awash with moral ambiguities and reformation quandaries. Set to the backdrop of a sweaty Los Angeles populated by grizzled coppers and psychotic thugs, de Toth marshals a fine cast through a screenplay ripe with interesting characters afforded quirky and beefy dialogue. The director, backed by top cinematographer Glennon, utilise the L.A. locations to the full, giving the plot a gritty realism that was often missing in other 1950s caper movies. Ace card in the pack is Hayden, given full license by de Toth, he stomps around like a toothpick chewing bear with a sore head, you do not want this Sterling Hayden on your case! Kirk deserves plaudits as well, as the fulcrum femme, she has to contend with not only Hayden's bullying of her husband, but also the mucky attentions of de Corsia's gang, headed by a wonderfully leering Bronson, she shifts through the emotional gears without histrionics and the characterisation is more believable because of it. Truth is is that all the cast work well under their director's guidance, even Carey's hyper attention seeking sits well in the context of the film's noir peccadilloes. A well stocked noir stew, boosted considerably by fine direction (why didn't de Toth do more noir?) and Hayden being on iconic form. 7.5/10

LeonLouisRicci By the mid-fifties Film-Noir was changing. Most became more Crime Movies than pure Noir. But the sensibility was still around and the style was dieing hard. In the Conservative Decade there tended to me more emphasis on Cops and Police Stations and Police procedures.But, sometimes if handled with respect the Noir genre was given its due and flavored what could have been routine into something that was more remarkable and memorable. Here we have one of the best of the late Film-Noir entries that is a low-budget Movie that is priceless.Hard Boiled with sharply defined Characters and great unconventional Cinematography, the seedy sets and night shoots are impressive. Only Riff-Raff would use a cardboard box as a lamp shade. The Film was influential in many ways. This was once neglected but is now becoming touted as a fine example of the genre.This is a violent and visual treat packaged with so many Artistic touches that it remains a worthy and welcome detour from so many forgettable and less accomplished puff pieces from a Film industry that was very inconsistent in the 1950's.

MartinHafer "Crime Wave" is a very good example of a forgotten film noir picture that deserves to be seen. Its strengths are its directness--it is compactly told, brutally violent and lacking in the glamor and glitz you find in some of the 'pretty' examples of noir. Heck, to me noir pictures should NOT be pretty--they need ugly actors, dark camera work and relatively modest production values--not the flashy Hollywood type of actors or sets. In this sense, the film is quite a success--with the most notable actor being the rugged but far from pretty Sterling Hayden (a veteran of noir) and the rather obscure Gene Nelson.The story itself is pretty simple. A gang of vicious robbers commit a strong-arm robbery and kill a cop. One of the gang is mortally wounded in the robbery but manages to make it to the home of an ex-con who lives nearby. The con has gone straight and wants nothing to do with crime--he's happily married and has a decent job. But, when the other two gang members later show up as well and demand he become the new third member of the gang or they'll kill his wife, he's stuck. Should he help them or go to the cops? As for Hayden, he plays an amazingly cynical cop who's tough to like. He is in many ways a jerk--and a lot less likable than the ex-con. I like that juxtaposition and the film is exciting throughout--making it well worth your time.By the way, while not long enough, there's a nice making of DVD extra included with this film as well as the movie "Decoy" on the same disk.