A crooked politician finds himself being accused of murder by a gangster from whom he refused help during a re-election campaign.
Acting
Alan Ladd's quiet menace redefined the noir antihero.
Cinematography
Shadows that practically swallow characters whole.
Writing
Dashiell Hammett's dialogue hits like a blackjack.
Director
Stuart Heisler
Brian Donlevy
Paul Madvig
Veronica Lake
Janet Henry
Alan Ladd
Ed Beaumont
Bonita Granville
Opal 'Snip' Madvig
Richard Denning
Taylor Henry
Joseph Calleia
Nick Varna
William Bendix
Jeff
Frances Gifford
Nurse
Donald MacBride
Farr
Margaret Hayes
Eloise Matthews
Moroni Olsen
Ralph Henry
Eddie Marr
Rusty
Arthur Loft
Clyde Matthews
George Meader
Claude Tuttle
William Benedict
Farr's Receptionist (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Paramount rushed this after The Maltese Falcon hit, betting noir was the new gold rush.
Lake and Ladd became THE noir couple, but he was 5'6" and she was 4'11" — Hollywood built them standing on phone books.
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