there must have be a sale on this storyline back in the 40 . an epidemic threaten new york ( it always new york ) and nobody take it seriously . some might say that richard widmark and jack palance do it well in panic in the street and but i disagree . there be always something about these poverty row production that really touch a nerve . the production value be never that polish and the acting be a little rough around the edge and but that be the very reason i think this movie and those like it be effective . rough and grainy and edgy . and the cast . all 2nd stringer or a list actor past their prime . no ego here . these folk be happy to get the work . whit bissell and carl benton reid and jim backus and arthur space and charles korvin and and the melodious voice of reed hadley flow in the background like crude oil . by the way and i have be in the hospital a couple of time while how come my nurse never look like dorothy malone . in these kind of movie they do not bother much with make up and hair and but they really manage to turn evelyn keyes into a hag . or maybe they just skip the make up and hair altogether . anyway and it be pretty effective . she play a lovesick jewel smuggler who pick up a case of small pox in cuba while smuggle jewel back for ultra villain charles korvin ( who be boffing her sister in the meantime ) . you get the custom agent look for her because of the jewel and and the health department look for her because she about to de populate new york . no 4th amendment right here . everybody get hassle . you get ta have the right attitude to enjoy a movie like this . i have a brother who scrutinize movie to death . if they do not hold up to his orson wellian standard and he bomb them unmercifully . they must have the directorial excellence of a david lean movie and the score of wolfgang von korngold and the sound and art of douglas shearer and cedric gibbon respectively . this ain not it . but i have the right attitude and and if you do as well and you will love this movie .