"Hell is a City" is definitely one of the greatest efforts Hammer Films ever produced, and yet the style & substance of this film is miles away from the studios' usual comfort zone! We all know - and worship - Hammer from their grand-guignol horror classics, but this is a genuine and brilliant film-noir. And craftsman-director Val Guest made a film-noir that can easily compete with the best Hollywood genre-outings from the 40s and 50s.
In Manchester (so glad it isn't London for once), a massive police hunt unfolds to capture fugitive criminal Don Starling, who was involved in a robbery during which a 19-year-old girl died. Inspector Martineau obsessively tracks down Starling via his former accomplices, ex-girlfriends, and inner-city gambling networks. The plot may sound very simplistic, but "Hell is a City" has many layers. Martineau's character, for instance, is a complex persona with a bit of a drinking problem and marital issues at home. Each and every supportive character is worth exploring, including the lewd bookmaker's wife, the verbally brave antique dealer, the gambling barkeeper, the stunningly beautiful deaf-mute girl, etc.
In good old film-noir tradition, the film also features dazzling dialogues, a terrifically downbeat atmosphere, gritty violence, stupendous photography, and striking performances. Lead actors Stanley Baker and John Crawford are fantastic, but the supportive cast also contains a few magnificent names, like Donald Pleasance, Billie Whitelaw, and Peter Madden. Highly recommended!
In Manchester (so glad it isn't London for once), a massive police hunt unfolds to capture fugitive criminal Don Starling, who was involved in a robbery during which a 19-year-old girl died. Inspector Martineau obsessively tracks down Starling via his former accomplices, ex-girlfriends, and inner-city gambling networks. The plot may sound very simplistic, but "Hell is a City" has many layers. Martineau's character, for instance, is a complex persona with a bit of a drinking problem and marital issues at home. Each and every supportive character is worth exploring, including the lewd bookmaker's wife, the verbally brave antique dealer, the gambling barkeeper, the stunningly beautiful deaf-mute girl, etc.
In good old film-noir tradition, the film also features dazzling dialogues, a terrifically downbeat atmosphere, gritty violence, stupendous photography, and striking performances. Lead actors Stanley Baker and John Crawford are fantastic, but the supportive cast also contains a few magnificent names, like Donald Pleasance, Billie Whitelaw, and Peter Madden. Highly recommended!