Petty crook and cop-killer Martin Rome, in bad shape from wounds in the hospital prison ward, still refuses to help slimy lawyer Niles clear his client by confessing to another crime. Police Lt. Candella must check Niles' allegation; a friend of the Rome family, he walks a tightrope between sentiment and cynicism. When Martin fears Candella will implicate his girlfriend Teena, he'll do anything to protect her. How many others will he drag down to disaster with him?
Direction
Siodmak's Expressionist shadows crawl through NYC like guilt.
Acting
Conte's wounded predator vs. Mature's aching humanist.
Cinematography
Hospital corridors as purgatory—Lubitsch would weep.
Director
Robert Siodmak
Victor Mature
Lt. Candella
Richard Conte
Martin Rome
Fred Clark
Lt Collins
Shelley Winters
Brenda Martingale
Betty Garde
Miss Pruett
Berry Kroeger
W. A. Niles
Tommy Cook
Tony Rome
Debra Paget
Teena Riconti
Hope Emerson
Rose Given
Roland Winters
Ledbetter
Walter Baldwin
Orvy
June Storey
Miss Boone, Nurse
Tito Vuolo
Papa Roma
Mimi Aguglia
Mama Roma
Oliver Blake
Mr. Masselli
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
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