IMDb RATING
7.4/10
9.7K
YOUR RATING
A crook arrested for a jewelry heist initially refuses to give up his accomplices, but he changes his mind once his wife dies under worrying circumstances.A crook arrested for a jewelry heist initially refuses to give up his accomplices, but he changes his mind once his wife dies under worrying circumstances.A crook arrested for a jewelry heist initially refuses to give up his accomplices, but he changes his mind once his wife dies under worrying circumstances.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 3 wins & 2 nominations total
Robert Adler
- Detective
- (uncredited)
Rollin Bauer
- Sing Sing Guard
- (uncredited)
Harry Bellaver
- Bull Weed
- (uncredited)
Dennis Bohan
- Guard
- (uncredited)
Nina Borget
- Cashier
- (uncredited)
Susan Cabot
- Restaurant Patron
- (uncredited)
Alexander Campbell
- Train Conductor
- (uncredited)
Harry Carter
- Detective
- (uncredited)
Dort Clark
- Man in Car
- (uncredited)
Eva Condon
- Nun at Orphanage
- (uncredited)
Harry Cooke
- Taxi Driver
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOriginally, Patricia Morison played Victor Mature's wife, who is attacked and raped by a gangster who is supposed to be watching out for her while Mature is in prison. Afterwards, she commits suicide by sticking her head in the kitchen oven and turning on the gas. Both scenes were cut from the original print at the insistence of the censors, who wanted no depiction of either a rape or a suicide, so she does not appear in the film at all. Mention is made later in the film about Mature's wife's suicide and an obscure reference is made by Nettie that the unseen gangster Rizzo contributed to the wife's downfall.
- GoofsWhen Assistant District Attorney D'Angelo comes to the cell to talk to Bianco, Udo is sharing the cell with Bianco. D'Angelo then again proposes a deal for Bianco to turn in his accomplices in exchange for leniency; however, Udo is still in the cell within hearing distance. A District Attorney proposing a deal to a prisoner in the presence of another prisoner is highly unrealistic and against policy. As a precaution, these deals are proposed in private to safeguard the inmate's life.
- Crazy credits"All scenes in this motion picture, both exterior and interior were photographed in the state of New York on the actual locale associated with the story."
- Alternate versionsFor the theatrical release in Manitoba, the shot of the woman in the wheelchair going down the staircase had to be shortened.
- ConnectionsEdited into Myra Breckinridge (1970)
Featured review
Good crime drama
This film is "required reading" in the study of gangster films, mostly because of Richard Widmark's exceptional and truly frightening performance as Tommy Udo. Interestingly enough, 43 years later, actor Joe Pesci would also terrify movie audiences with his portrayal of another psychopathic gangster, who also had the rather benign name of 'Tommy'. However, unlike Pesci, Widmark never had another particularly memorable gangster role after this one.
While a lot of the story is realistic, some of it is far-fetched - mainly, the end. Only a complete lunatic would even think of walking into the headquarters of a gangster that he had just testified against and expect to come out alive. However, the tension in that restaurant confrontation scene is effective, and I suppose for the era in which this film was made, it was necessary to have the 'good hero' face down the 'bad bully' and put him in his place. In reality, of course, it just doesn't happen that way in the world of crime.
But what makes this film is Widmark, and to give an idea of just how effective he was, when this film first came out, a real-life NYC mobster(Joey Gallo) would watch it and earnestly try to imitate Widmark's style and mannerisms, thereby enhancing his own skill in intimidating others. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
While a lot of the story is realistic, some of it is far-fetched - mainly, the end. Only a complete lunatic would even think of walking into the headquarters of a gangster that he had just testified against and expect to come out alive. However, the tension in that restaurant confrontation scene is effective, and I suppose for the era in which this film was made, it was necessary to have the 'good hero' face down the 'bad bully' and put him in his place. In reality, of course, it just doesn't happen that way in the world of crime.
But what makes this film is Widmark, and to give an idea of just how effective he was, when this film first came out, a real-life NYC mobster(Joey Gallo) would watch it and earnestly try to imitate Widmark's style and mannerisms, thereby enhancing his own skill in intimidating others. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
helpful•434
- EW-3
- Jun 14, 2000
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Blind Date
- Filming locations
- Chrysler Building - 405 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(jeweler's robbery at beginning of film)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,520,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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