Al Goddard, a detective who works for the United States Postal Inspection Service, is assigned to arrest two criminals who've allegedly murdered a U.S. postal detective.
Acting
Ladd's granite-faced postal detective, utterly humorless, weirdly compelling.
Cinematography
Gritty Indiana locations, shadows doing heavy lifting.
Production
Genuine postal inspector procedures, surprisingly detailed.
Director
Lewis Allen
Alan Ladd
Al Goddard
Phyllis Calvert
Sister Augustine
Paul Stewart
Earl Boettiger
Jan Sterling
Dodie
Jack Webb
Joe Regas
Stacy Harris
Paul Ferrar
Harry Morgan
George Soderquist
David Bauer
David Goodman
Dan Riss
Maury Ahearn
Harry Antrim
Taylor
Geraldine Wall
Mother Ambrose
George J. Lewis
Leo Cronin
Murray Alper
Driver
Byron Barr
Policeman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jack Webb's performance here directly inspired Dragnet's Joe Friday—Lewis Allen later called it 'the audition nobody knew was happening.'
The Postal Inspection Service still cites this film in recruitment; they love that someone made them look cool in 1950.
US
