Odd to admit this, but it was my love of the films of Jean-Pierre Melville that lead me to find Jules Dassin. I remember trying to find anything that resembled Le Samourai and Le Cercle Rouge in the wake of seeing those in my early 20’s and finding Dassin’s Rififi in the process (I’m not actually comparing those). Rififi was, of course, a truly mind-blowing affair, and lead me to look for more Dassin’s films such as the film’s Criterion released back in September 1947’s Brute Force and 1948’s The Naked City.

Brute Force is one of the earliest films to star Burt Lancaster (along with Siodmak’s the Killers). It is immediately quite apparent why he blew up in the way he did. In Brute Force he plays Joe, a prisoner who is let out of solitary, but he has only one thought on his mind, escape. Not for the simple desire for freedom, but because his wife is dying and he wants to spend her last days in her company. Causing Joe and the prisoner’s issue is Capt. Munsey a sadistic guard if there ever was one, who uses violence as a means to an end. Joe’s desire for freedom and reunion with his wife, also becomes a desire to knock Munsey off his sadistic domineering perch as he plans his escape from prison.

Brute Force is a brutal film for its era. It carries a noir like atmosphere, which is different for a film of its type, but in the hands of a skilled noir-director like Dassin it fits like a glove. The performances from Lancaster and Cronyn are top-notch, both are at the top of their game, and help to make this film compelling top to bottom.

The Naked City opens with a simple narration, “There are 8 million stories in the Naked City, and this is one of them.” The film begins showcasing various citizens of the city, until we focus on the murder of Jean Dexter. A pair of seasoned police detectives begin by interviewing a friend of Dexter’s who they quickly determine to be both a thief and a liar, and from there begin to branch out into different characters (though never leaving him too far behind) and different avenues of investigation.

Dassin’s The Naked City is a fast paced, and slightly raw version (especially for the time) police procedural. From opening narration to closing it is endlessly compelling, as we as viewers are drawn deeper into the investigation into Jean Dexter’s murder. It is frantic for the period, and the performances feel are fantastic and really draw one in.

Criterion presents both films in their native 1:37:1 1080p AVC encoded transfer. Contrast is solid, detail is excellent. Audio presented in LPCM mono tracks in English is crisp and clear. Both films have commentary tracks, interviews, and other excellent featurettes, and both are easy to HIGHLY RECOMMEND.