Night and the City

Beautifully atmospheric setting of New York City at night for
director Robert Siodmak's Phantom Lady, a 1944 film noir based on a
Cornell Woolrich novel and best remembered for the hopped-up jazz
drum solo played in a club by film noir staple Elisha Cook Jr.

From February 14 through 21, June and Art is participating in For the Love of Film (Noir):  The Film Preservation Blogathon.  The June and Art letters are still here, but during this week they will be embellished with film noir images and other supplementary material.

Through this blogathon, over 80 bloggers are hoping to raise significant funds to support the work of the Film Noir Foundation and restore The Sound of Fury, a 1950 film noir starring Lloyd Bridges.  Please contribute to the effort by going to this link, the Maltese Falcon donation button, or through the donation buttons on
host sites Ferdy on Films and the Self-Styled Siren.

Now here’s today’s letter from June:

Saturday, February 18, 1950

Jane Randolph is stalked in New
York City at night by an unseen
presence -- a scene filled with
noir elements from Val Lewton's
1942 horror classic Cat People.

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Shirl and I went to a late movie last night.  It didn’t get out until 1 o’clock.  We had to walk several blocks to get back to the apartment and it was dark and scary.  It doesn’t look like such a good district late at night.

We had to go to a late movie because we couldn’t decide what to see.  We finally got desperate and said we would see

The city is London and the man on
the run is Richard Widmark in
director Jules Dassin's Night and
the City (1950) -- about as perfect
a title for a noir as you can get!

anything, which is exactly what we did see.  Next time we’ll go earlier. 

I’ve just hung up from talking to you.  How nice!  You told me to write and to tell you I love you – well, that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Even though it’s already noon, I’m still in my bathrobe.  I was in it when I was talking to you on the phone.  I’ll have to get dressed now – Shirl’s waiting for me.  We’re going to the Met to see a men’s clothing exhibit – for the laughs.  Then

The city is Vienna and the man on
the run is Orson Welles as
Harry Lime in director Carol Reed's
The Third Man (1949).

we’ll probably go to a movie.

All my love,

June

(For Monday – the movies they watched.)

© 2011 Lee Price