I’m not much a fan of sports films. Neither touching tales of team triumph nor moody athletic biopics move me — though I did love Blades of Glory (2007). Film noir is no bastion of athletics, although it does have its share of dark stories of boxers — e.g. Body and Soul (1947), The Set Up (1949) and The Harder They Fall (1956). But the boxing film is not at all my favorite subgenre (sorry Rocky).
I much prefer films in which sports are part of a larger thematic, an illustration of issues or tensions dealt with on multiple levels. And that’s why I’ve chosen to discuss Night and the City (1950), Jules Dassin’s unforgettable masterpiece, for Once Upon a Screen’s Athletes in Film Blogathon. In particular, I want to pay homage to the character Gregorius.
Like most fans of the film, I find many of its facets outstanding, from setting and style to amazing performances:
- The way the underside of London is both setting and mood
- Crisp yet shadowy noir cinematography
- Richard Widmark’s compelling portrayal of Harry Fabian, a small-time crook who wants to be a big man
- Googie Withers’ Helen Nosseross, a low-class femme fatale who has to come crawling back to her husband
- Francis L. Sullivan’s slimy Philip Nosseross
The film centers on struggle, with every character trying to get ahead, often at one another’s expense. Among the grifters, gangsters, and cheats, there’s a dark economy of scarcity. No one will admit it, but everyone is playing a zero sum game that means, in the end, that everyone loses.
The character who seems to recognize this most is the one I want to focus on: Gregorius, a legendary Greek classical wrestler, played by US professional wrestler Stanislaus Zbyszko. Gregorius is the father of gangster Kristo (Herbert Lom), who seeks to prove to his father what a big man he is by building a modern wrestling empire, featuring his hot-headed main attraction, The Strangler (Mike Mazurki). Gregorius is disgusted by the WWF-style free-for-all his son champions. Widmark’s Fabian steps in between the generations, claiming he will bring classic wrestling back with Gregorius’s prize pupil Nikolas (Ken Richmond) as his star.
The wrestling match we finally see occurs, however, when The Strangler and Gregorius fight, but not in the arena when they’re meant to. Old World fights New World and the result is the destruction of any notion of fair play, with the proud old man winning the battle but losing the war…aka his life.
I love Gregorius’s pride, the way he inspires his son to seek independence yet be appreciated by this literal and figurative mountain of a man. Kristo can’t appreciate his old-world perspective, however, and Fabian lies and exploits Gregorius to a lethal end because of this. Gregorius has to die in this bleak noir world, but only after he has shown himself triumphant in the ring.
Ultimately, Night and the City shows us that the game of life may be rigged at every level, but everyone has to play it out — in whatever arena they can.
June 4, 2016 at 4:59 AM
Great job and what a character. A sweaty clash for the ages.
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June 4, 2016 at 2:57 PM
Nicely put!
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June 4, 2016 at 8:21 AM
Excellent post on a excellent movie
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June 4, 2016 at 3:56 PM
Wonderful article that reminded me of the emotional impact of “Night and the City”. It has been a few years since I last saw the film, but that was a big screen experience. You live the lives of those characters, especially the admirable Gregorius.
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June 4, 2016 at 4:18 PM
I agree – it’s definitely a film that draws you in emotionally. Thanks for reading and commenting!
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June 4, 2016 at 9:34 PM
I’ve heard of this movie, but didn’t know it had a wrestling component in it. I imagine wrestling in the 50s was fairly different from the way it is now.
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June 4, 2016 at 11:28 PM
The film focuses on the difference between classic Greek wrestling and the more free-for-all of American pop culture wrestling.
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June 5, 2016 at 2:46 AM
Great review – Nice to see Gregorius getting some much-deserved attention! One of my favorite noirs – everyone here is at the top of his/her game. Exceptional film.
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June 5, 2016 at 2:51 AM
I agree 100%. Definitely one of my top ten noirs. Or even top five.
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June 6, 2016 at 7:41 PM
Gregorius sounds like a haunting, memorable character. This also sounds like an intriguing film the way it contrasts two different wrestling styles. You’ve sold me!
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June 6, 2016 at 7:55 PM
It’s a compelling noir beyond the wrestling too!
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June 9, 2016 at 2:40 PM
I also prefer films in which sports are part of a larger theme, and not the main focus. I’ll certainly check Night and the City out, also because I need to see more of Jules Dassin’s filmography.
Don’t forget to read my contribution to the blogathon! 🙂
Cheers!
Le
http://www.criticaretro.blogspot.com
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June 9, 2016 at 2:46 PM
It’s a great film in many ways. I hope you enjoy it. And I’m so glad you’re joining in the live tweets too!
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