and a rather unexpected plot line too for the era represent there be plague in the city of new orleans and only richard widmark can stop it . elia kazan trademark subject represent waterfront and work men and crowd and fugitive and blue collar folk and violence on a backstreet be all showcased here . jack palance be quite effective a the ice cold mobster out for a big score and zero mostel a dom delouise somewhat miscast but certainly watchable a his go fer . i enjoy barbara bel geddes a the stalwart and cool wife i think she and widmark be a believable couple . he himself always remind me somewhat of sinatra in the face and in the intense quiet manner and that be mean a a compliment if anything . i would never even heard of this movie and and yes and you have to admire widmark performance . i also enjoy paul douglas he seem to play this role many time and they make an unlikely but effective team . the plague itself be a mcguffin and you get ta know it not exactly do the way it would have be in real life rather small scale at the least no . but i find it carry the plot along nicely . check this out . it good . outta .