This is a tense thriller that overall is quite good but goes too far. It’s an early Hitchcock and serves as a good ‘before’ snapshot against which to compare his later, better works. The ending is much less satisfying than it could have been with a few plot tweaks, although the tension and plot reveals work well throughout.
Closest comparison: It’s like Notorious by way of The 39 Steps.
Setting: Drama
Plot: Espionage
Tone: Thriller
This movie takes place during a single day at the end of a waterfront alley in New York, and it delivers on the “knife fight in a phone booth” style of living the various classes of people living there endure every day. The stories weave together nicely to create a stage-play-esque tapestry that balances between the conflict of pathos and the catharsis of justice. It commands strong audience engagement and has a strong ending that may surprise you.
Closest comparison: It’s like Do The Right Thing by way of The Petrified Forest.
Setting: Sitcom
Plot: A Day in the Life
Tone: Crime Noir
