this film have and over the past ten year and become one of my favorite pseudo noir experience . the three storyline thread give u by kazan each have their unique and separate pleasure . the domestic chitchat between bel geddes and widmark and the movement between room and the small gesture such a the phone book barbara place on the chair under her son so he can reach the table and those small intimate exchange between husband and wife and all be well craft and natural . more than anything else and i love their porch and that second living room where it be clear they spend much of their summer time . the second thread be the professional relationship between many in the film but especially between widmark and douglas character . it may not be totally original and do get a bit blustery but all in all and it come across a real and respectful and efficient . the third thread and the grungy tale of blackie and his tattered little gang and get u closest to a dark and frighten noir world . palance blackie be as cold a a block of ice . this self proclaim business man and this self make man clearly have a complexity we only briefly tap in to . for me and this film continue to be a completely satisfying experience .