Bogart holds together story (as defence attorney) of petty criminal Nick Romano, played by John Derek, on trial for cop murder, uses courtroom setting to flash back his life of crime and attempts to go straight with well meaning Allene Roberts. Just falls apart with preachy sermonizing at end but altogether another immediate, vibrant early film from Ray, from impactful beginning on. Derek is perhaps a shade too much at times; does succeed in his goal to "Live fast, die young and have a good-looking corpse".
With: George Macready (DA), Candy Toxton (Mrs Bogart), Mickey Knox, Barry Kelley (Judge, The Manchurian Candidate, The Asphalt Jungle), Davis Roberts.
Shot with more contrast than Burnett Guffey would later use. Music by George Antheil. Written by Daniel Taradash and John Monks Jr from Willard Motley novel. Good production design Robert Peterson / William Kiernan. Columbia.
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