it too bad andre de toth do not contribute more to the noir cycle and because on the evidence he be a natural ( plus he be marry to early noir icon veronica lake ) . the pitfall and make in 1948 and look more and more like one of the best and and most central and movie in the cycle and but ( except for the early and more gothic dark water ) de toth only return to it once and with crime wave . it story be not a fresh one represent an ex con try to go straight ( gene nelson ) be coerce by circumstance to aid and abet a gang of his former cellmates . the uncomfortable spot he find himself in lie between them and the law and personify by sterling hayden a a tough and unforgiving police detective . there much more attention to character in the film hour and a quarter run time than in many full length feature of the era while jay novello and a an alcoholic veterinarian who double a an underworld sawbones and be especially memorable . by any reckoning crime wave be a minor film even a minor second feature but de toth lavishes easy expertise on it while it surprisingly well pace and well shot and as well interestingly cut . why so many talented director ( many of them refugee from europe ) be relegate and in the 1950s and to genre movie crime drama and 3 d schlockfests and western be a puzzle . in any case and i would give any three of de toth western and his house of wax for just one more film noir boast his directorial credit .