the bos and film from a script by the blacklist and hence uncredited dalton trumbo and start in 1919 and end somewhere in the great depression . it about the corruption of a municipal machine that focus on demobbed doughboy john payne who and when his older brother dy and inherit his political clout . on the night of his return he godrunk and marry a stranger he come to scorn ( gloria mcghee and whomakes you yearn for more of her ) . his only unwavering loyalty lie withan old wartime buddy ( william bishop ) and who have marry the girl payne love . so all his passion go into strengthen his hold over the city and include forge an unholy alliance with the ( unnamed ) mafia . despite a precisely stag shootout in the train depot ( do brian de palma borrow from this as well a from the battleship potemkin and for the untouchable . ) and the bos be really a somewhat kane ish look at the rise and fall of a lone wolf while payne tough yet touch performance lend an almost tragic tinge . the result be an involve period piece that dwell on the late fringe of film noir . ( one topical note represent the men costume be by dick cheney . ) .