The gangster grew up tough, got tougher with the years. But now slicker, smarter criminals are moving in on his rackets. The man who prided himself on his control of any situation realizes he may not be tough enough. And what once was self-confidence becomes the unfamiliar but overwhelming emotion of fear. The treacherous world of film noir combines with psychological suspense in a probing, surprising tale rumored to be an uncredited work by blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo. Barry Sullivan stars, powerfully capturing the flailing crimelord's passage from defiance to craven desperation. And the cast - including Sheldon Leonard, Akim Tamiroff, Elisha Cook, Jr. and Charles McGraw - is a noir fan's dark dream.

A tough mobster defends his territory when an out-of-state gangster tries to muscle in on his waterfront action during the raging war on alcohol.