Bootleggers on the lam Frankie and Noll split up to evade capture by the police. Frankie is caught and jailed, but Noll manages to escape and open a posh New York City nightclub. 14 years later, Frankie is released from the clink and visits Noll with the intention of collecting his half of the nightclub's profits. But Noll, who has no intention of being so equitable, uses his ex-girlfriend Kay to divert Frankie from his intended goal.
Directed by Byron Haskin
bootlegger
new york city
release from prison
based on play or musical
film noir
black and white
double cross
former best friend
retribution
nightclub owner
handshake
nightclub singer
moral reformation
former partner
accounting fraud
greedy man
payback
former gangster
corrupt businessman
betrayed by a friend
man out of time
verbal agreement
signed confession
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.5 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Burt Lancaster
Frankie Madison
Lizabeth Scott
Kay Lawrence
Kirk Douglas
Noll "Dink" Turner
Wendell Corey
Dave
Kristine Miller
Alexis Richardson
George Rigaud
Maurice
Marc Lawrence
Nick Palestro
Mike Mazurki
Dan
Mickey Knox
Skinner
Bobby Barber
Newsboy (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Charles D. Brown
Lt. Hollaran (uncredited)
Crew
Byron Haskin
Director
Charles Schnee
Screenplay
Victor Young
Original Music Composer
Hal B. Wallis
Producer
Sam Comer
Set Decoration
Franz Bachelin
Art Direction
Edith Head
Costume Design
Wally Westmore
Makeup Supervisor
Popular Reviews
5 reviews
mimi
6.0★ · 11/02/25
happy birthday dear birdy <3
happy birthday dear birdy <3
Max Kowalski
6.0★ · 02/21/21
Burt Lancaster has been in prison for 14 years and his boyfriend Kirk Douglas didn’t even visit. And what’s worse is that he’s become a nightclub owner.
Burt Lancaster has been in prison for 14 years and his boyfriend Kirk Douglas didn’t even visit. And what’s worse is that he’s become a nightclub owner.