A big national crime syndicate moves into town, partnering with local crime boss Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan). There are two problems: 1) Nick is the violent type, preferring to do things the old-fashioned way instead of using the syndicate’s more persuasive methods. 2) Captain Thomas McQuigg (Robert Mitchum), the only honest police captain on the force and his loyal rookie patrolman, Johnson (William Talman).
In grand movie tradition, McQuigg and Scanlon came from the same background but went in different directions
McQuigg and Johnson take on the violent Nick and try to foil the syndicate’s plans to elect DA Mortimer Welsh (Ray Collins), the crooked prosecutor running for a crooked judgeship.
Lizabeth Scott plays Irene Hayes, a nightclub singer mixed up with Nick’s clean younger brother Joe (Brett King).
Howard Hughes’ RKO studio was not trying for a blockbuster here, just a good B movie suitable for twin bills. In that, they succeeded.
Captain Thomas McQuigg
Robert Mitchum Irene Hayes
Lizabeth Scott Nick Scanlon
Robert Ryan Officer Bob Johnson
William Talman DA Mortimer X. Welsh
Ray Collins Mary McQuigg
Joyce Mackenzie Dave Ames
Robert Hutton Lucy Johnson
Virginia Huston Detective Sgt. Turk
William Conrad Precinct Sgt. Jim Delaney
Walter Sande Chief Investigator Harry Craig
Les Tremayne R.G. Connolly
Don Porter Booking Sgt. Sullivan
Walter Baldwin Joe Scanlon
Brett King Breeze Enright
Richard Karlan
Captain Thomas McQuigg
