Coming Near the End of the Film-Noir Cycle.
This Fact-Based Story Tells of a District in Brooklyn that was "Sewed Up"
By "Organized Crime".
It Came on the Heels of the Televised Senate Commission.
America was Riveted to the "Idiot Box" that for Once was Used for the Purpose of Informing the Public and Shining a Light on Evil Doers.
The Film is a Hard-Boiled, Bleak Look at the Gambling Operations and the Bad-Cops who were On the Take.
The Police Department Decides to Use "Virginal", Un-Tainted Rookies to Infiltrate.
Because the Corruption was so Deep that No One on the Force Could be Trusted.
Darren MaGavin Reins in His Usual Over-the-Top Shenanigans and Gives One of His Best Realistic Performances.
Good Cast All Around.
Highlighted by Margaret Hayes in a Gut-Wrenching Role and Bares Her Soul as a Widow whose Husband was "In Deep" to the Mob.
The Film also Boasts Bare-Knuckle Fisticuffs that are Outstanding.
Many a Norish Scenes of the Back-Alleys and Tough-Turf as the Action Unfolds.
Striking to Look At with a Good Script from the Black-Listed Bernard Gordon form a "True" Magazine Story by Ed Reid.
This Could be Categorized in 1950's Off-Spring of Film-Noir that Proliferated Crime Films and Became Labeled "Police Procedurals".
Owing more than a Debt to Pure Film-Noir, this is One of the Best of the Bunch.
Note...Bobby Helms the co-author of "Jingle Bell Rock" shows up in an "insert" and does the Movie no favors removing the angst and ambiance. But its only 2 minutes.