Tough cop Dave Bannion takes on a politically powerful crime syndicate.Tough cop Dave Bannion takes on a politically powerful crime syndicate.Tough cop Dave Bannion takes on a politically powerful crime syndicate.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
26K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Sydney Boehm(screenplay)
- William P. McGivern(Saturday Evening Post serial)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Sydney Boehm(screenplay)
- William P. McGivern(Saturday Evening Post serial)
- Stars
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination
Videos1
- Director
- Writers
- Sydney Boehm(screenplay)
- William P. McGivern(Saturday Evening Post serial)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
Dave Bannion is an upright cop on the trail of a vicious gang he suspects holds power over the police force. Bannion is tipped off after a colleague's suicide and his fellow officers' suspicious silence lead him to believe that they are on the gangsters' payroll. When a bomb meant for him kills his wife instead, Bannion becomes a furious force of vengeance and justice, aided along the way by the gangster's spurned girlfriend Debby. As Bannion and Debby fall further and further into the Gangland's insidious and brutal trap, they must use any means necessary (including murder) to get to the truth. —alfiehitchie
- Taglines
- VICE... DICE ...and CORRUPTION!
- Genres
- Certificate
- Passed
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaAs Dave Bannion leaves The Retreat after he first sees Vince Stone face to face, the music in the background is "Put the Blame on Mame," a reference to Glenn Ford's performance in Gilda (1946).
- GoofsThe street address for the junkyard on Bannion's list is "101," yet the number "1024" is seen on a large sign over the yard's shed.
- Quotes
Debby Marsh: [to Bannion] Oh, well, you're about as romantic as a pair of handcuffs.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Mean Streets (1973)
- SoundtracksIt's a Blue World
(uncredited)
Written by Chet Forrest and Bob Wright
Heard instrumentally during one of the scenes at The Retreat
Top review
Big Hit
Effective film noir about a cop fighting the mob as well as his own corrupt superiors as he investigates a murder. Ford has perhaps the best role of his career as the good cop. His scenes with wife Brando are very nicely handled, adding poignancy to the tragedy that would befall the family. There are shades of Dirty Harry as Ford takes matters into his own hands. Marvin and Grahame are also good as a mobster and his moll, respectively. Lang, a master of this sort of film-making, keeps things moving at a snappy pace. Some of the violence is jarring but of course nothing graphic is shown, given the era the movie was made in. After an excellent start, the second half of the film becomes somewhat routine but it still packs a punch.
helpful•183
- kenjha
- Apr 26, 2006
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $6,324
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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