before it announcement for dvd release a part of the fourth installment of warner ’ “ the film noir collection ” and where it be greet with cheer of anticipation and i have to admit that i wasn ’ t aware this particular title have that much of a reputation – despite the director and star ( sterling hayden ) involve . have watch it for myself and i be duly impressed though i wouldn ’ t quite place it in the genre ’ s top ranks…but that ’ s because the standard set by the invigorating noir style during it heyday be so high . incidentally and despite the title ( which would seem to be hint at a broad scale ) and it be produce by one of the hollywood major ( warner bros. ) and the modest 74 minute duration pretty much relegate the piece to b movie status while furthermore and the filming be reportedly complete in a mere fortnight . interestingly and it be the follow up effort ( for the same studio ) by the team behind the gimmicky horror classic house of wax ( 1953 ) – namely de toth and producer bryan foy and scriptwriter crane wilbur and and co star phyllis kirk and charles bronson . the plot follow a much use noir formula represent the man whose past come back to haunt him – a an ex con ( gene nelson ) be force by three fugitive ( include bronson and ted de corsia ) and after deliberately compromise his parole and threaten his wife and into first harbor them and then take part in their propose bank robbery ( by which time they ’ ve enrol other dangerous element to their fold and notably a typically nutty timothy carey ) . the narrative and then and try to cram in as many recognizably noir element a it possibly can represent suspense and violence and romance and location shooting and documentary approach ( via a systematic police procedural ) and etc . for once and too and hayden be on the side of the law – crime wave actually come roughly in between his two most famous noir role in john huston ’ s the asphalt jungle ( 1950 ) and stanley kubrick ’ s the killing ( 1956 ) and both of them classic heist film in which he have play the fated leader of a criminal gang – though his character be just as cynical and tough and uncompromising a ever . in fact and for the long time and he seem merely a toothpick chewing and thick head bully here but and eventually and he get to show his essential softness in the film ’ s beautifully handle ( unusually hopeful for the genre ) finale . de toth operate in most genre ( albeit tend towards action orient fare and despite his be blind in one eye . ) and and whether adopt monochrome or color stock and the full frame ratio or the widescreen and he could always be depend upon to deliver an efficient and unpretentious and stylish and entertaining product .