When hardworking stevedore (longshoreman) Solly Pitts (Mickey Shaughnessy) is shot for opposing the guys in charge of the union that rule the waterfront, William Keating (Richard Egan) – the young turk in the District Attorney’s office – comes up against the usual “wall of silence”.
But with the encouragement of his fiancee, Dee (Julie Adams), and veteran homicide cop, Lt. Anthony Vosnick (Charles McGraw), he presses on fearlessly. Egan finally wins over the victim’s wife, Madge (Jan Sterling), and a few of his cronies, but along the way discovers that wheels turn within wheels.
He eventually persuades his superiors to bring an indictment despite unreliable witnesses and holes in his case and faces off in court against mob lawyer John Jacob Masters (Dan Duryea), eventually bringing about the first successful prosecution in the history of dockland killings.
Walter Matthau co-stars as Al Dahlke, the corrupt union boss.
The fine score is by Richard Rodgers and Herschel Burke Gilbert, assisted by the uncredited Henry Mancini.
William Keating
Richard Egan Madge Pitts
Jan Sterling John Jacob Masters
Dan Duryea Dee Pauley
Julie Adams Al Dahlke
Walter Matthau Lt. Anthony Vosnick
Charles McGraw Howard Rysdale
Sam Levene Solly Pitts
Mickey Shaughnessy Benjy Karp
Harry Bellaver Eddie ‘Cockeye’ Cook
Joe Downing Captain Sid Wallace
Ned Wever Monk Mohler
Billy M. Greene Judge Craiger
John McNamara Mrs Cavanagh
Amzie Strickland Big John
Mickey Hargitay Midget
Nick Dennis
Director
Arnold Laven
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Walter Matthau co-stars as Al Dahlke, the corrupt union boss.
John Jacob Masters
Benjy Karp
