City Of Fear

Year: 1959

Grade: B

Country: USA

Director: Lerner

Review

sort of similar to kiss me deadly, but even more like the killer that stalked new york. it’s about an escaped con who steals a cylinder of heroin, but it turns out to be radioactive material instead. while he’s waiting around the city trying to find a fence for the heroin, he keeps getting more and more sick because of his exposure to the radioactive material. ironically, he clenches the cylinder more and more tightly as the film wears on. works well on that level because it’s a symbol for his greed and moral turpitude that is slowly killing him. the penultimate shot is of him lying on the ground with a blanket over him and a sign that says “caution radioactive material.” it’s such a stark and almost comical shot. much of the acting leaves something to be desired, but it’s forgivable. it falls into the detective-noir/police procedural category.