Continuing on from my recent fascination of film noir I have taken upon visiting the western side of filmmaking that I have otherwise neglected in the past in favour of international creations. Today I spent some time watching through The Naked City, of which I came across the other day when watching other films and searching for a few films to add to a watch list. The Naked City is one that appeared in a film noir list that I did not pay all that much attention to, noting the name down and not really reading into the film beyond the two tags of its genres: noir and crime. Precisely what I was looking for. Though without any expectations as to whether it would be good or not.
I watched the Criterion version of The Naked Gun, which in its opening sequence displayed some context regarding the film that instantly made me consider it with more appreciation and importance: a film subject to many issues due to legal issues and licensing that led to its constant poor storage and restoration attempts, edits, and loss of original material. That is to say that there is no true cut of this film anymore, and the original roll of film is considered to be lost media. This Criterion release was made through the attempts of many to find and fix as much of the original film together and make it as authentic to its original release as possible. It does show in parts, but that just makes me appreciate it much more. To know someone out there cared enough to not just fix it up, but share it with the world so it is not fully forgotten.
The Naked City is a film that transcends fiction, as it mixes many elements of documentary filmmaking into its narrative. The Naked City is precisely that: the naked city of New York. A story of many unfolding daily. A letter of love to its chaotic nature and maze of locations to be found in every corner and alleyway. How one location of its streets may lead to a completely different environment. Filmed without much of those within the film even knowing. Aside from our main cast members, of course.
The Naked City prides itself is defying the norms when it comes to filmmaking in that era. Rejecting stages and sets and instead focusing on the densely populated streets of New York City. Featuring the messy, decayed, and the metallic that can be found in all locations. New York City beind a city very different to any other, even today. The Naked City focuses itself around New York City and the way in which it never really stops, how everyone is in constant motion, and how many stories are taking place all at once without anyone really noticing. In the case of this film, the narrative follows detectives attempting to solve a murder case, though that entire attempt merely being text on a newspaper the following day for five cents. It shows this constant motion in the context of both perspectives: the general public and those who live the events directly.
It does not attempt to do much with this narrative, and there is not really any attempt at a twist. It shows a very realistic approach to a detective story in the 40s, in which everything would be done by roaming the streets and performing constant investigations through various locations and talking to as many people as possible to find clues and answers. Through this we see how our characters traverse through the city, revealing the maze-like nature of it as we see culture, lifestyles, and locations shift within an instant. The film contains a narrator that speaks to us directly, describing the many events that our detectives go through. Their actions and reasoning, how they may one day end up in a barber's shop, and the next in a small apartment building. Perhaps within a stand on the street that sells drinks and food.
That would be to admit that the narrative almost seems like an after thought, an excuse to create a story that people will tune into and discover, though ultimately just being a documentary on the many people of New York City and how wonderful yet chaotic it can be. It reminds me of John Wilson's recent documentary filmmaking series "How To with John Wilson" in which a documentary filmmaker roams New York and searches for strange events and people that are constantly taking plce and walking by that we otherwise overlook. It is pointing a magnifying glass at the broader picture, displaying a large sign above our heads that actually displays some awareness of what is actually taking place. Cities for the most part being places so dense in people, but often void in connection as everyone comes and goes to their own destinations, living their lives with little attention to what is taking place around them.
Given that much of the film is made to showcase New York City, and with the technical limitations of cameras back then, much of the film is shot with quite a high depth-of-field that allows us to see a bit of everything both in foreground and background. It is what makes the film so engaging as we see all the life of New York City taking place behind our characters as they talk and roam around the locations. We see all the life unknowingly unfolding, as the film was shot mostly without people knowing they were being filmed. It gives each scene a much more authentic feel to it, nobody appears like an extra; which is often a problem in more modern films where extras feel quite obvious and less authentic in their movements and speeds. Though we see the enclosed areas of New York City: the thin apartments of the city in which people inhabit. The office spaces high up in skyscrapers. The construction sites and the decayed, left to rot backdrops of the streets. I really enjoyed it for this.
It does not attempt to glamourise New York City in any manner. It shows the gritty nature of it, in one scene in particular I noticed how the road was just horrible. Covered in debris and ignored as if it was normal. A case of New York City's economic decline and often more poor look that was seen more in the 70s. We even see how a character runs through the back of buildings, showing a small graveyard, empty space containing a bathtub and debris, and the rubble of what would've been another building at some point in the past. It shows the rapid change of the city, how it contains this mixture of decay and death, but also the new, innovative and alive. Almost a reflection of the people itself through the many ages the city contains. A diverse range of people with different backgrounds in class. Though perhaps not so much the case these days with the city's insane cost of rent and general living!
Due to this directing style, it is really fascinating to me to see this way of life so naturally taking place. This documentary aspect of the film shows a different era, capturing moments of regular life and time for a city that is known to never rest. We are capable of seeing how similar things are now, and how different they are. To witness the people that helped build what it now is as well. And I can't think of a better way to pay homage to a place than to not just document it, but display a small story within it that will stand the test of time. That even now I am sure many living there could still relate to in some aspects.
Las películas que menos esperas que sorprendan están espeta la oportunidad de crear conexión. Los cineasta deseoso de recuperar proyecciones relevante hacen lo posible, esta anécdota me hizo recordar las grabaciones que restauraron de la Segunda Guerra mundial, no es lo mismo, pero se aproxima a la idea del esfuerzo es valioso.
The films you least expect to surprise are waiting for the opportunity to make a connection. Filmmakers eager to recover relevant projections do their best; this anecdote reminded me of the recordings they restored from World War II, it is not the same, but it is close to the idea of a valuable effort to improve the image.
It is interesting to get lost in a film for its tacit beauty without having color and make a differential style that catches the viewer in deepening the dynamics of life where converge a world that transits through the same place and do not know each other. This type of work makes you philosophize to understand features that you ignore and the cinematography seeks to clip in your thoughts.
Hugs, @namiks
I love films like these! I really love how they capture life, documenting the ways of life and the culture. The way people discussed things and acted. Self-aware and in itself an admiration of it all. But far from a level to which it feels pretentious and forced. It does make you think, and consider how little has really changed since. We have more technology, but fundamentally we're the same people.
Wow...what have I been watching???...I get bored watching what movie directors get to throw at us nowadays.. every new film tries to copy an already successful film or the filmmakers are trying to pass across a controversial message in ways that may seem less annoying..
I believe a movie of this magnitude would be a great watch...I started reading some old history books and started to gain a knowledge or two about life in the past...a lot has happened in so many years but the beauty of the past still remains..
I'll add this to my list of movies and i hope I see it...
Thanks for sharing ❤️
Yeah I pay so little attention to new releases. Most of what I watch is international and typically void of a lot of that more modern Hollywood structure. If you are getting a bit tired of it all too, definitely check out international films and films of the past. There's a lot of great films to discover. It's definitely worth the time.
Yeah..I should take your advice...I think I'll go browse up a list if good international films and films of the past and try to make time to watch them...
You could recommend me a few though...I'll really appreciate ❤️