• Sam Fuller cinema- ferocious, visceral, sleazy – but clever as well
  • Former infantry soldier and newspaperman- each Fuller film is part expose- uncovering and debunking – here it is organized crime, the vice rackets—not unlike 1955’s The Phenix City Story
  • Fuller puts little easter eggs in his films- his world- there’s the sign of the Big Red One infantry in the office here just like the soldier in Pickup on South Street
  • A very strong opening. Fuller jumps right into it- dingy streets, rolling drunks – has a nice effect
  • The best shot in the film is the horrific murder the young Robertson character sees in the alley—masterful silhouette work

The best shot in the film is the horrific murder the young Robertson character sees in the alley—masterful silhouette work

  • Cliff Robertson playing against type and it is a excellent lead performance- Fuller is very close-up heavy here. capturing sweat

Cliff Robertson playing against type and it is a excellent lead performance- Fuller is very close-up heavy here. capturing sweat

  • 99 minutes this moves-
  • Gritty and raw – “Cuddles” the professional working girl
  • Certainly unsubtle- the deplorable action of the girl getting run down in the street- tough to watch

    Certainly unsubtle- the deplorable action of the girl getting run down in the street- tough to watch

  • Unflinching, tough as nails- the whole film seems to take place in an alley
  • Recommend but not in the top 10 of 1961