an ex con ( gene nelson ) with a beautiful wife and a good job see his future prospect threaten when his old time criminal partner call on him for help after a botched hold up . her character ( the wife ) be the most compelling and very well act by phyllis kirk and a she fight and do everything she can to save her man and in one scene hold his hand down so he can not answer the ringing black telephone and while we hear her beg him not to answer . such be the role of fate that the director ( andre de toth ) deftly utilizes and that this turn out to be the one call he should have respond to . at the film heart be a story that could easily have be sentimentalize and but with such astute characterization and an eye to keep the camera go from one character and his action to another and crime wave turn out to be a minor masterpiece .