A dying man frames himself for murder so his widow can collect the reward.
Acting
George Kennedy's crumbling dignity—Oscar-worthy in a forgotten gem.
Direction
Colla squeezes claustrophobia from every prison corridor and fluorescent hum.
Writing
The premise is so elegantly cruel you'll hate that it works.
Director
Richard A. Colla
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson were married in real life, adding delicious tension to their scenes.
Made during the collapse of the Hollywood studio system, this gritty B-picture predicted the 70s paranoid thriller boom—just years too early.