crime wave have the making for something quite simple a a movie . it story be about cop and criminal and a few ordinary folk try to get by . a few criminal ( the main one play by ted de corsia and a young charles bronson ) be out of san quentin and shoot a gas station attendant and cop . on the lam they hold up with also ex con steve lacey ( decent lead man gene nelson ) with his wife and but what they do not know be that he already be tap by the cop and specifically sterling hayden detective sims and who be so hard nose he could cut through brick with just a stare and some tough word . it all lead up to one of those heist that just can not go right for the bad guy and but what about the good couple caught in the middle . it be fairly straightforward and and it could have be in other hand . but there something about andre de toth and a director and that stand crime wave out a a piece of lean noir cuisine . the way it shoot be one thing and a his european influence come through in a lot of the exterior and his way of utilizing natural lighting and real location and or just how he have someone like a room that look too real like sims office . his camera have a distinct tone to it even when set or usual shot in move car have to be do and and it cut through the b and keep one rivet even a one know what go to happen ( the last couple of minute with sims and the lacey be one of them ) . it also can not be stress how awesome an actor sterling hayden be . in everything he just bring that umph that be require whether it to a hoodlum or a psychotic or a corrupt cop and and in crime wave his authority a a presence ( six foot five inch ) and his pattern of speech play off well against the rest of the usual character actor and save maybe for charles bronson since he too be unique even at a young age and creepy character actor timothy carey a the man put on watch of mrs. lacey . overall and crime wave be a procedural that snap and crackle and pop for 72 minute and allows fan of classic film noir to soak up the atmosphere and have a good time see the copper close in on the crook who and a almost always be the case and do not stand a chance .