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ERA
Did you know
70 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
While the City Sleeps
"Suspense as startling as a strangled scream!"
1956 1h 40m EN
👍
6.9
SOLID
★6.9TMDB · 153
ThrillerDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Newspaper men compete against each other to find a serial killer dubbed "The Lipstick Killer".
“Suspense as startling as a strangled scream!”
Cast
Dana Andrews
Edward Mobley
Rhonda Fleming
Dorothy Kyne
George Sanders
Mark Loving
Howard Duff
Lt. Burt Kaufman
Thomas Mitchell
John Day Griffith
Vincent Price
Walter Kyne
Sally Forrest
Nancy Liggett
John Drew Barrymore
Robert Manners
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Fritz Lang
- Writers
- Casey Robinson
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
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DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Fritz Lang, shot by Ernest Laszlo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Herschel Burke Gilbert. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Gene Fowler Jr. shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Dana Andrews and Rhonda Fleming and George Sanders carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Suspense as startling as a strangled scream!".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 7
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0049949 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Fritz Lang directs. Ernest Laszlo behind the camera. Herschel Burke Gilbert scores. Gene Fowler Jr. cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 170 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2Directed by Fritz Lang, shot by Ernest Laszlo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Original score by Herschel Burke Gilbert. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 4Editor Gene Fowler Jr. shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Dana Andrews and Rhonda Fleming and George Sanders carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "Suspense as startling as a strangled scream!".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0049949 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Ernest Laszlo
- Original score
- Herschel Burke Gilbert
- Editing
- Gene Fowler Jr.
- Costume design
- Norma Koch
- Makeup / hair
- Cherie Banks
- Runtime
- 100 min · 1h 40m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- NR
Also by
Fritz Lang
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- BE
Bert E. Friedlob Productions
Key crew
- ProducerBert E. Friedlob
- NovelCharles Einstein
- EditorGene Fowler Jr.
- Art DirectionCarroll Clark
- Sound RecordistBuddy Myers
- HairstylistCherie Banks
- Sound EditorVerna Fields
- Set DecorationJack Mills
- Costume DesignNorma Koch
- Makeup SupervisorGustaf Norin
- Production SupervisorGeorge Yohalem
- Sound EngineerJack Solomon
- ContinuityJoe Franklin
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- new york city
- film noir
- serial killer
- black and white
- newspaper man
Release history · US
When it landed
- Premiere1956-05-09NR· Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Theatrical (limited)1956-05-16· New York City, New York
- Theatrical1956-05-30
Also known as
International titles
- La 5ème victimeFR
- No Silêncio de uma CidadeBR
- La Cinquième VictimeFR
- Mientras Nueva York duermeES
