If you recall Hollywood tough guy and brawler Lawrence Tierney from his role in Reservoir Dogs, here a chance to see him in younger days as a ruthless killer in a role that helped cement his movie persona. Also with Clair Trevor and Elisha Cook Jr. If you are a Noir fan, its worth a look. Midnight ET tonight.

The only problem I have with the film is Claire Trevor's performance. The idea is that she can't help herself because Lawrence Tierney has a big dick, and she's just gotta have it. Pay attention to when the two of them have this conversation. It's all quite veiled of course. The Production Code would not allow for anything even approaching suggestions that a female is in heat and can't get enough of that funky stuff. There's actually two scenes between them which address this; one's OK but the other- Trevor sounds like she's talking about going to the dentist. Where was Robert wise when the scene was shot?

The thing is that the Code always inhibited any such suggestions, but other actresses -and other directors- managed to convey these base desires with innuendo.

Don't get me wrong; Robert Wise was a fine director (though, with this film, very early in his directing career) and Claire Trevor was a fine actress. It's just that, for whatever reason, this point which explains Trevor's behavior is not made in a believable way.

If you watch the film and pay attention, you'll see what I mean.

Elisha Cook shows up. He was in lots of film noir. Hell, he was even in the proto-noir films The Stranger on the Third Floor and I Wake Up Screaming. The Maltese Falcon, too.