Bank teller Mike Donovan (Barry Sullivan) takes the first step on the road to Perdition when he fails to report a $49,000 shortage. Accused of theft, Donovan is fired from his job. He is then prevented from finding other employment by Javert-like insurance investigator Gus Slavin (Charles McGraw). Despite many setbacks, Donovan attempts to clear his muddied name.
Acting
McGraw's Slavin: relentless, sweaty, unforgettable.
Editing
80 minutes of pure economic storytelling — no fat, all nerve.
Director
Harold D. Schuster
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot in just 10 days on a $200,000 budget — the B-movie efficiency is the aesthetic.
Released during the Red Scare, its paranoia about accusation without proof hit different — audiences saw themselves in Donovan's trap.
US
