James Maloney

In this misty morality play, three crooks vie to gain possession of $20,000 in stolen bank money by hiring swamp guide Simon Lewt (Marshall Thompson), the lone man who can take them to the loot's hiding place in the Florida Everglades. But as the desperate criminals each attempt to lure Lewt into their schemes to retrieve the cash, temptation rears its head -- and he contemplates running off with the booty himself.

An embittered cop leads a precinct of characters in their grim battle with the city's lowlife while wife Parker suffers from neglect. Based on Sydney Kingsley's Broadway play, this seminal movie was a prototype for everything from "Hill Street Blues" to "NYPD Blue." Academy Award Nominations: 4, including Best Director, Best Actress--Eleanor Parker, Best Screenplay. (English)