- Film Review
- Reviewed By Allen Eyles
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4 out of 5
Sidney Kingsley's smash-hit play about the ugliness of life as seen from the squad room of a drab police station loses none of its claustrophobic intensity on screen under William Wyler's resourceful direction in this crime drama. Kirk Douglas is memorable as the cop who despises weakness and wrongdoing, only to find that his intolerance comes back to haunt him. Lee Grant and Joseph Wiseman were imported from the Broadway production for their showy parts of simple-minded shoplifter and dope-addicted three-time loser. But many others are equally good, including William Bendix (fellow cop), Eleanor Parker (Douglas's wife) and George Macready (despicable abortionist). Only the wet young lovers (Cathy O'Donnell and Craig Hill) are a pain, but at least the Hollywood censors permitted abortion to be retained as an issue.
Plot Summary
Crime drama starring Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker. On the track of an illegal abortionist, Detective James McLeod oversteps the mark and nearly kills the man. When McLeod's wife is revealed to be involved, events spiral towards a violent conclusion.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Det James McLeod
- Kirk Douglas
- Mary McLeod
- Eleanor Parker
- Det Lou Brody
- William Bendix
- Shoplifter
- Lee Grant
- Det Dakis
- Bert Freed
- Det Gallagher
- Frank Faylen
- Lt Monaghan
- Horace McMahon
- Arthur Kindred
- Craig Hill
- Karl Schneider
- George Macready
- Charley Gennini
- Joseph Wiseman
- Susan Carmichael
- Cathy O'Donnell
Crew
- Director
- William Wyler
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