The Naked City

Looking for a crime drama that earns its twists, available in Australia on Artiflix, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV? The Naked City is it. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Barry Fitzgerald's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Artiflix.

There is a reason The Naked City keeps coming up in conversation. The Naked City treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. After a former model is drowned in her bathtub, Detective James Halloran and Lieutenant Dan Muldoon attempt to piece together her murder. Credit to Barry Fitzgerald and Howard Duff for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It hit screens in 1948. The plot mechanics of The Naked City never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in The Naked City. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Barry Fitzgerald anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.

The Naked City was released in 1948, directed by Jules Dassin. The full 96-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.