this be the first movie which be rayesque to the core . one of his most obvious permanent feature really appear for the first time represent the search for a father . the relationship bogart or derek be intense ( after the death of the biological one ) and predate those of run for cover ( john derek again play opposite cagney ) and rebel without a cause ( remember plato to jim and judy represent i wish you could be my parent ) but i could also mention the mitchum or kennedy relationship in lusty men or even heston and the chinese girl in 55 day at peking . or james mason and his ( biological this time ) in big than life . emma character predate the rayesque young girl and the one you meet again in they live by night ( note how allene robert resembles cathy odonnell ) . allene robert beam face and her hope against hope be the only ray of light in a dark tragical story . like fritz lang and nicholas ray put the blame on the society . nick be bear under a bad sign and like many of the director hero . john derek give an intense performance climaxing in the scene in the court when his wife suicide be reveal . bogart shine a his lawyer ( he more convincing in this kind of part than he be in marked woman ) . excellent screenplay with a superb edit while many contemporary movie ( such a the brilliant usual suspect ) might have be influence by the first scene . note that the story begin during the cast and credit and which show that ray and when he be on top of his game and do not know filler .