plague replaces femme fatale in this highly suspenseful noir shot in new orleans by director elia kazan . kazan a always get fine performance from his actor but also show a visual flair for claustrophobic suspense with a combination of tight composition and stun single shot chase scene . a man enter the country illegally be kill after a card game . it turn out he have a form of bubonic plague so it remain crucial not only to arrest the killer but to find an inoculate all those who have have contact . city and health official implement a plan of secrecy rather than alert the community for fear the culprit will flee the city and spread the disease . a detective and an epidemiologist up against the clock form an uneasy alliance a they comb the waterfront employ their contrasting investigatory style . street raise a huge ethical question about the public right to know a the medical officer argues for a medium blackout thus possibly create a great risk to the community . regardless of outcome and you still may find yourself second guess the action of the the film protagonist . richard widmark a dr. clint reed and paul douglas a detective warren display short temper and grudge respect for each other in their search for the killer . barbera bel geddis a reed wife have some good moment with widmark in some domestic scene that bring the right touch of ( restful more than comic ) relief from the tension of the desperate search amid the grim environs of the new orleans waterfront impressively lensed by cinematographer joe mcdonald . zero mostel a a small time criminal be slimy and reprehensible but at time sympathetic . walter jack palance a the skeletal blackie ( black death . ) be simply outstanding . with rivet intensity palance dominate every scene he be in not only with ample threat but disturb charm as well . in addition he display a formidable athleticism that allow for a more suspenseful continuity and especially in the film powerful final allegorical moment . panic in the street be probably kazan best non brando film . it tension fill and suspensefully well pace and edit . it ambient on locale set lend a sense of heighten reality that allow kazan the flexibility to display his visual style beyond the movie stage and with panic he succeed with aplomb .