andre de toth a hungarian by birth be renowned by all who know him a a bit of character and a fun guy to be around and unless that be you be a producer at which point de toth show his argumentative side and a side of his character that saw him loose an eye in a pre war anti nazi rally . de toth be give a one off film deal with warner to make a big budget film and bogie and cagney and ava gardner be propose for this particular venture and to be film over 35 day and de toth say he do not want any of them and insist he could make the film in 15 day with sterling hayden in the lead role of det . lt. sims and de toth insistence pay off and he bring the complete film home two day ahead of schedule and despite this the film be shelve for 2 year and when eventually release fail at the box office and up until about ten year ago it be pretty much a forgotten film and with only one print know to exist . film pretty much all on location around los angeles in a stunning verite style by bert glennon and the film have some truly stunning nightscapes with some very inventive lighting and tell the tale of steve lacey ( gene nelson ) and an ex con and but a good guy at heart and who be now marry to the stalwart ellen ( phyllis kirk ) and be successfully go straight . lacey receive a late night phone call from someone who doesn not identify themselves and lacey worry that it his past come back to haunt him and he isn not wrong and within minute a wounded ex cell mate of his from san quentin be at his door look for refuge and his wound the result of a nearby brutal killing of a policeman at a gas station holdup . before lacey can do anything his guest dy and he ring his parole officer look for help and but before he can do the right thing and the belligerent toothpick chew sims arrives at his door determine to pin the crime on him and the dead body only compound lacey fate . hayden be superb in the role and give a very naturalistic performance in what be in some way a semi documentary style of film and there also a host of great support role for the like of ted de corsia and charles bronson who complete the hold up gang and also a really entertaining and utterly scene steal performance by the truly psychotic timothy carey . crime wave be really well paced hard boil noir and at a paltry 73 minute it pass all too quickly and it also have the distinction of be a rather important influence on kubrick the killing which have a similar look and also most of the same cast . a my first viewing from the newly release warner film noir volume 4 boxset and i find it an unmitigated success and there also a hilarious and very entertaining commentary from noir luminary eddie muller and james ellroy and although the latter bark like a dog do grate just a little .