Several character types are enlisted for an intricate
robbery of the money room at a California horse track but the plan starts to
unravel when the greedy, disloyal wife of one the culprits begins to poke her
nose in. Presented in disjointed time at breakneck speed, extremely hard-nosed,
and with a modern feel, Stanley Kubrick’s crisply shot and edited early work
stands among the cream of other noirs produced during the period. In a cast of
great faces and tough supporters, Sterling Hayden is a standout as the no
nonsense leader, Elisha Cook, Jr. is memorable as the pushover counter worker,
and Marie Windsor is excellent as his nefarious wife. The finale is
jaw-dropping with a perfect ending and closing line.
**** out of ****
