1h 13min | Crime, Drama, Film-Noir | 6 March 1954
Director: André De Toth
Stars: Gene Nelson, Sterling Hayden, Phyllis Kirk, Ted de Corsia, Charles Bronson
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046878/
Watched because this disc was replaced by Warner for rot, and GN was a lead.
Noir filmed in '52 but released in '54 (the '53 release dates are in Europe; no mention of this in commentary track).
Surprise ending left my mouth agape.
GN is the semi-innocent victim; ex-con who's gone straight, married to straight-arrow PK, but he's contacted by a hood who's been shot by a cop, and then by a former doctor and the hood's compatriots in the crime wave. So he's trapped into helping them, despite the cops being wise early on. Very strange to see him this way, but GN's acting is perfect for this, and he does emote.
This is more interesting than a police procedural, and with SH as the lead detective, the bad guys are sure to get hurt. He's his menacing best here.
Warner, dir. De Toth; 6
