Questioned as a murder suspect, solid (but drunk) citizen Al Willis attacks his police questioners, is beaten, and swears vengeance against them. Next night, Lieut. Parks is murdered; Willis is the only suspect in the eyes of tough Chief Conroy, who pursues him doggedly despite lack of evidence. The obsessed Conroy is dismissed from the force, but continues to harass Willis, who flees to a sleazy town on the Mexican border. Of course, Conroy follows. But which is crazy, Conroy or Willis?
Acting
Sterling Hayden's simmering rage barely contained in every frame.
Cinematography
Sleazy border town shadows that reek of desperation.
Director
Jerry Hopper
Sterling Hayden
Joe E. Conroy
Gloria Grahame
Marianna
Gene Barry
Al Willis
Marcia Henderson
Helen Willis
Max Showalter
Det. Lt. Parks (as Casey Adams)
Billy Chapin
Petey
Chuck Connors
Capt. Owen Kincaide
Don Haggerty
Matt Matthews
Stuart Randall
Chief A. S. Babcock
Tol Avery
Irish
Fay Roope
F.J. O'Day
Joseph Mell
Otto Stoltz
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gene Barry later became famous as TV's Bat Masterson, making his sleazy killer turn here deliciously against-type.
This was one of many '50s noirs using Mexican border towns as shorthand for moral ambiguity and escape from American law.
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