When a cop drops a name, it usually isn't a racketeer's. However, in the case of humiliated officer Broderick Crawford, he's willing to make an exception. Taking on an undercover assignment after allowing a killer to escape because of a fake badge, Crawford manipulates his way onto the rackets of the waterfront where his name dropping gets him an introduction to the big man. Making both friends with the mob and enemies with the law, he manages to get away with his plan, but will his luck continue?
Great atmosphere provides for an intriguing crime drama that truly is one of the better film noir of the early 1950's. Toss in future Oscar Winner Ernest Borgnine along with recent winner Crawford, here on the right side of the law as opposed to his memorable characters in All the King's Men and Born Yesterday.
Nobody is who they appear to be in this, with lots of shady characters who are really cops and a few on the opposite. A sassy screenplay is filled with delightfully macho tough dialog that keeps dropping feminine comments about various characters who are dropped down a peg or two by various low-lives.
While there are a few women involved in the plot, there isn't an unnecessary romantic plot to pad this out needlessly. This is definitely a guy's film and is clever and complex without being pretentious. Look for Richard Kiley and Charles Bronson.
Great atmosphere provides for an intriguing crime drama that truly is one of the better film noir of the early 1950's. Toss in future Oscar Winner Ernest Borgnine along with recent winner Crawford, here on the right side of the law as opposed to his memorable characters in All the King's Men and Born Yesterday.
Nobody is who they appear to be in this, with lots of shady characters who are really cops and a few on the opposite. A sassy screenplay is filled with delightfully macho tough dialog that keeps dropping feminine comments about various characters who are dropped down a peg or two by various low-lives.
While there are a few women involved in the plot, there isn't an unnecessary romantic plot to pad this out needlessly. This is definitely a guy's film and is clever and complex without being pretentious. Look for Richard Kiley and Charles Bronson.