Watch Big Town After Dark

Big Town After Dark is a fictional noir film that puts you in the lap of a city where the streets are dangerous and the people behind every corner seem to have mal-intentions. The movie kicks off with a murder in a restroom, quickly setting the tone for the rest of the film. It takes place in a small but populated city and follows the story of a protagonist, Steve Wilson (Philip Reed) who works as an editor in a newspaper. He is entrusted with the responsibility of finding the real killer of a night club singer, Betty Walker.

The search for the real killer takes Steve on a wild and dangerous journey as he seeks the truth about what happened at the night club. He puts his own life in danger as he speaks to all sorts of different people to try and find clues. He becomes determined to prove his innocence to everyone, so that they know he did not really kill Betty. In the quest for truth, Steve finds himself often having to rely on his own resourcefulness and quick thinking to solve the mystery. He initially starts his investigation with some help from his girlfriend, Lorelei Kilbourne (Hillary Brooke), the daughter of his newspaper's owner but eventually he has to work almost entirely alone to get to the bottom of things.

As the plot develops, Steve discovers that there's more to this murder than previously thought. The deeper he digs, the more he uncovers shocking truths about some of the people he thought he knew. The investigation takes him to different parts of the city, from seedy alleyways to nightclubs and other areas where he becomes a target to a criminal gang that was involved in the murder. The gang is run by Buck Karns, and Steve finds himself against an enemy that's all but impossible to stop. The entire city is against him and he has nowhere to turn.

Throughout the film, there are numerous tense and suspenseful moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Big Town After Dark does well to set the mood through its dimly lit visuals, creating an environment that blends perfectly with the noir genre. As the film progresses, the mystery begins to unravel, and Steve begins to get closer to the truth. But as luck would have it, those who want to prevent him from doing so are everywhere.

The film has a number of characters that are interesting, bringing drama and suspense with them wherever they go. Aside from the protagonist and the victim, the movie features characters such as Lorelei, who helps Steve early in the investigation, and the lovable Little Joe Bliss (played by Terry Frost), a musician at the night club who has some information that could prove helpful. Other characters include the owner of the newspaper, Mr Kilbourne (played by Charles Arnt), and his assistant, Lorelei's brother, Buddy (played by Joe Sawyer).

In addition to the interesting characters and slow-burning suspense, the film also uses music very well to supplement the mood of the film. The jazz music that's present in the night club scenes would not feel out of place in a 1940's American cafe. The music supports the film's visuals, adding to the allure and mystery of the night club scene.

Big Town After Dark is a 74-minute ride that features twists and turns that keep its audience engaged. Although it is not a perfect film, it's hard not to be impressed by its simplistic yet effective storytelling as well as its characterization. The film has well-executed suspense, solid acting, and a compelling plot. It's a great example of classic American film noir, and one that deserves a place in most cinephile's collection.

Big Town After Dark is a 1947 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5.