Classic Film Noir Television Spotlight: The Naked City

A gritty crime drama in which the primary focus centers around the lives of the dedicated detectives who work out of New York's 65^th Precinct. 

The emphasis of each story was the human element and real life crime. The television series was based on a 1948 film noir drama also titled The Naked City. The screen play for the motion picture was written by Albert Maltz and Malvin Wald. It was directed by Jules Dassin, and produced by Mark Hellinger, who also narrated. Starring in the movie are Barry Fitzgerald, Don Taylor, Howard Duff, and Dorothy Hart. This is one of the first movies that was actually filmed on the streets of New York.

The Naked City television series first aired on ABC in 1958. The semi-documentary style drama was produced for four seasons, from 1958 until 1963. There are one hundred and thirty eight episodes, with thirty nine half hour episodes, and ninety nine sixty minute episodes. The series was also filmed on location in New York. 

The series premier was a half hour episode starring John McIntire as Lieutenant. Dan Muldoon, and James Franciscus as Detective Jimmy Halloran, also the names of the officers in the original film noir motion picture. Midway through the first season John McIntire was replaced by long time actor Horace McMahon in the role of the crusty but kind hearted Lieutenant Mike Parker. 

ABC had plans to cancel The Naked City once the 1959 season came to an end. Brown & Williamson, who was one of the sponsors, and members of the production staff successfully convinced ABC to revive the series. The Naked City returned as an hour series in 1960. The cast from 1960 included Paul Burke in the role of Detective Adam Flint, as well as the return of Horace McMahon. Classic character actor Harry Bellaver joins the cast as Sargent Frank Arcaro. The part of Libby, who was Adam's girlfriend and aspiring actress, was played by Nancy Malone. 

During it's four season run, The Naked City featured many of the young stage actors who performed in New York. All of these young actors went on to become major film stars. There is an impressive list of performers who appeared on the television series. Some of the young actors featured on The Naked City include Carroll O'Connor, Mickey Rooney, Walter Matthau, Jack Klugman, Dustin Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Peter Falk, Robert Duvall, Claude Raines, William Shatner, Burgess Meredith, Robert Redford, Eli Wallach, George Segal, Aldo Ray, Martin Sheen, Rip Torn, Nehemiah Persoff, George C. Scott, and Jack Warden.  

Some female performers who appeared on The Naked City series are Kim Hunter, Tuesday Weld, Suzanne Pleshette, Jean Stapleton, Sylvia Miles, Sandy Dennis, Eileen Heckart, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Betty Field, Mildred Natwick, Viveca Lindfors, Laura Heineman, and Jan Sterling. The hour long episodes of The Naked City could be seen on the ABC television network on Wednesday nights at ten p.m.   

Both the 1948 film noir classic, and the 1958 television series featured one of the most famous closing lines in movie going history. 

“There are eight million stories in the Naked City. This has been one of them.”

Serving Classic Film Noir for your enjoyment. Find The Naked City and other Classic Film Noir television shows:

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