Broderick Crawford's zest and skill are valuable ingredients in this lusty hard-boiled whodunit.

An expertly-plotted noir, less psychologically disturbing and more straight-up undercover crime drama, but it ratchets up the tension nicely and Crawford is having a hell of a time acting like the tough guy.

[Broderick] Crawford is at his best as the veteran lawman playing the tough-guy dockworker, engaging and compelling and, at times, quite funny.

William Bowers' dialogue coulda been a contenduh, for sure ("You must be part of my hangover" or "I need to go underground, like gophers and communists"), especially coming from Crawford's unlovely mug.