Naked City

Naked City is the first and most influential photobook by photographer and photojournalist Weegee (pseudonym of Arthur Fellig). It stands out for its use of aggressive front flash and a ‘noir’ aesthetic that defined the tabloid style of the time. It was an immediate commercial success, reaching six printings in its first year alone and becoming one of the most profitable photobooks in US history. The title and atmosphere of the book inspired Jules Dassin's film noir The Naked City (1948), a subsequent television series of the same name, and The Public Eye, a film released in 1992. In this neo-noir, Pesci plays Leon ‘Bernzy’ Bernstein, a cynical photographer in 1940s New York City.