Sadistic killer-for-hire Philip Raven becomes enraged when his latest job is paid off in marked bills. Vowing to track down his double-crossing boss, nightclub executive Gates, Raven sits beside Gates' lovely new employee, Ellen, on a train out of town. Although Ellen is engaged to marry the police lieutenant who's hunting down Raven, she decides to try and set the misguided hit man straight as he hides from the cops and plots his revenge.
Acting
Ladd's ice-cold stare could freeze gin; Lake's magic act is pure distraction.
Cinematography
Shadows so sharp they'll cut you—this is noir doing what noir does best.
Writing
Graham Greene source material: lean, mean, and morally queasy.
Director
Frank Tuttle
Alan Ladd
Philip Raven
Veronica Lake
Ellen Graham
Robert Preston
Det. Michael Crane
Laird Cregar
Willard Gates
Tully Marshall
Alvin Brewster
Marc Lawrence
Tommy
Olin Howland
Blair Fletcher
Roger Imhof
Senator Burnett
Pamela Blake
Annie
Frank Ferguson
Albert Baker
Victor Kilian
Drew
Patricia Farr
Ruby
Harry Shannon
Steve Finnerty
Charles C. Wilson
Police Captain
Mikhail Rasumny
Slukey
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ladd was fourth billed—studio thought he was too short to be a leading man until audiences lost their minds.
The film was re-released during WWII with added anti-Japanese propaganda scenes that Greene hated; most prints now restore his original vision.
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