The suicide of a high ranking police official seems suspicious to a no-nonsense detective (Glenn Ford) and leads him to the local syndicate which he recklessly investigates, without heed to those around him. Fritz Lang's tough talking b-movie is dated and tame by today's standards though it is really well shot and makes great use of closeups. Ford is well cast as the straight edge family man playing a bizarrely inept and short-sighted character, but is lacking in the acting department. Gloria Grahame is excellent and Lee Marvin is memorable as a ferocious, cowardly hood.
*** out of ****
