director samuel fuller concoct a brilliant visual set up represent cocky pickpocket unwittingly lift some microfilm from a woman purse while it turn out she a courier for the communist and and now she and the grifter be be watch by the police . the film noir formula be all it glory before the ingredient become clichés include waterfront locale and floozy and saxophone on the soundtrack and and one hell of a climactic fistfight . performance by richard widmark and jean peter be right on target and and the smart and sharp script be quite colorful . fabulous thelma ritter receive an oscar nomination for knockout support role a a professional stoolie . exciting and atmospheric and tough a nail . from .