Crime Wave is exactly what three hard case escaped cons from San Quentin are causing in California when they escape. Making their way down the Pacific Highway, they've had a string of low level robberies, gas stations, convenience stores et al, all for traveling money. When they hold up a gas station within Los Angeles and an LAPD officer is killed trying to apprehend them, these cons get Sterling Hayden on their case.
Hayden is a tough cop who has a dislike for cons in general, once a criminal always a criminal. So he has a bad attitude toward a known associate Gene Nelson whom the escapees Nedrick Young, Charles Bronson and Ted DeCorsia contact.
First comes Young who was wounded in the filling station holdup and dies inconveniently in Nelson's apartment. The others come as well and want Nelson in a planned caper they have. Hayden comes, but Nelson plays dumb, mainly because he's now got a wife in Phyllis Kirk whom they threaten as well.
Nelson also doesn't crack at first because he also doesn't want to be a stoolie either. No one on either side of the law wants that reputation.
In fact eventually he does warn the cops in a manner of speaking. Like On The Waterfront, Crime Wave is also a justification that sometimes telling the authorities is the right thing to do. Sterling Hayden was just such a friendly witness at the House Un-American Activities Committee and he tells Nelson in no uncertain terms it's right.
Hayden was one of the most unique and unorthodox characters ever to inhabit the movie colony. One should read his very good and not ghost written memoir The Wanderer and get a real insight into him. Through life this man did not play by anybody's rules as far as he could.
Crime is a taut, no frills noir with some really great performances by a great ensemble cast.
