in new orleans and an illegal immigrant feel sick and leave a poker game while win the smalltime criminal blackie ( walter jack palance ) . he be chase by blackie and his men raymond fitch ( zero mostel ) and poldi ( guy thomajan ) and kill by blackie and his body be dump in the sea . during the autopsy and the family man lieutenant commander dr. clinton reed ( richard widmark ) of the u. s. public health service find that the dead man have pneumonic plague cause by rat and he need to find who have any type of contact with the man within forty eight hour to avoid an epidemic . the city mayor assign the skeptical captain tom warren ( paul douglas ) to help dr. clint to find the killer that be infect with the plague and inoculate them . panic in the street disclose a simple story and but it be still effective and with a great villain . the engaging plot have not become date after fifty seven year . jack palance perform a despicable scum in his debut and and the camera work while he try to escape with zero mostel be still very impressive . my vote be seven . title ( brazil ) represent pânico na ruas ( panic in the street ) .