this be yet another gritty and compelling film direct by sam fuller in the early 1950s . this minimalist and fast work director have something unusual for his early film a cast with some star . richard widmark and jean peter and richard kiley star in this film about a group of communist agent who be try to sneak secret out of america and they will stop at nothing to succeed . the film start with peter on a subway car be watch by federal agent . they know she be a link in a long espionage chain . unknown to everyone be the wild card in the equation a small time pickpocket ( widmark ) be also on the train and he manage to steal the secret that peter be carry . widmark think it just another purse he ransack only later do he realize the seriousness of what he steal . now it widmark on his own with commie and the fbi hot on his trail . widmark and the rest be exceptional and the film be grip from start to finish . although she do not get top billing and a special mention should be make of thelma ritter . this support actress have perhaps the performance of her lifetime a a stool pigeon . seldom be she give this much of a chance to act and i be impressed by her ability to play a broken down and sad old lady . as far a the script and direct go and they be very good but with one small exception . at first and i love the way widmark and peter interact . it one of the few time on film you will see a woman punch square in the mouth . now thats tough . later and inexplicably and they become amazingly close too close to be believable . still and with so much great drama and such an effective noir like film and this can be overlook . see this film .