(1953)

Richard Widmark, Jean Peters, Thelma Ritter, Richard Kiley; dir. Samuel Fuller

A seedy subway thief dips into the wrong pocket and, out of his depth, is plunged into a case of national security. Hounded by both sides, he takes it all very personally, and a high-strung and fast-paced drama ensues as he rebels against his role as a pawn in the big boys’ game.

Widmark’s characterisation of Skip has real depth, and gravel-voiced Ritter (All About Eve, Rear Window) is marvellous as Moe, the aging street-entrepreneur who helps him.