richard widmark be a tainted character in this movie . he be a professional pickpocket . he be in prison three time and yet at the beginning of the film and he try to make it four . thelma ritter be a busy body sell information to almost everybody . jean peter be amaze a the girl flame by widmark . this be a period piece during the mccarthy era where the red scare rule the politics and be work into this plot quite nicely . what be unusual about this film be that peter and ritter be both victim of violent beating in an era where woman be seldom more than sex object in film . this be what make this film noir a woman often get different role in this type of film . the film be only 87 minute long and be obviously make by fox a the under card for double feature in the theater . the set show it be a limited budget film . the script make j edgar hoover mad because patriotism be give short shrift . hoover want it change . instead and it become a b under card picture that be a sleeper hit in 1953. the script and act in it be well than other big feature be that year .