Cornet player Pete Kelly (Jack Webb) returns from the war riding the rails. In 1927, the world-weary musician is leading a band in a Kansas City speakeasy. New crime boss Fran McCarg (Edmond O'Brien) is demanding bigger protection payments from the band. Rich party girl Ivy Conrad (Janet Leigh) has her sight set on Pete.
Jack Webb's dead-tone delivery sort of works for this weary character although it's hard for him to be the romantic lead of a movie. How is he uncertain about Ivy? She's one flighty chick, but has he seen her? She looks like Janet Leigh. He looks like Jack Webb. Jack is also doing double-duty as the director. This is supposed to be a serious crime noir, but sometimes its sincerity almost comes off as a spoof. There are quite a few familiar faces and some of them are before their fame. Peggy Lee gets an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Jack Webb's dead-tone delivery sort of works for this weary character although it's hard for him to be the romantic lead of a movie. How is he uncertain about Ivy? She's one flighty chick, but has he seen her? She looks like Janet Leigh. He looks like Jack Webb. Jack is also doing double-duty as the director. This is supposed to be a serious crime noir, but sometimes its sincerity almost comes off as a spoof. There are quite a few familiar faces and some of them are before their fame. Peggy Lee gets an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.