Although Sam Fuller's Book (The Dark Page) is the only Screen Credit given, His Lurid, Street-Wise Sensibilities are all over this Newspaper Noir. From the Opening in a Wretched Tenement Building that is the Scene of a Sensational and Horrific Axe Murder, the Movie takes on an Ominous Tone that cannot be Hidden by the Bright Lights of the City Desk.
Cynicism is Ripely Written into this Tale of Murder, Cover-Up, and Exploitation. John Derek and Henry Morgan Joke about a Splattered Skull making it Impossible to Obtain some "Art" for the Front Page.
From there to the Lonely Hearts Club Dance that is a Parade of Pathetic People, Losers, and just Ordinary Folks that Life has Discarded, the Film Sinks to even Deeper Depths as the Newspaper Sponsored Event is a Backstage to Uncovered Lives, and even more a Discarded and Abandon Wife who ends up A-Float in the Bathtub.
Broderick Crawford is in Typical Form as a Fast Talking, Sweaty, Editor that is Ironically the Catalyst for Circulation to Skyrocket and Fate Closing in. With Donna Reed on hand to Provide a Center of Sanity in this Whirlwind, the Movie is a Taut Testament and Scathing Indictment that does Manage to Provide some Relief and Redemption.
A Bitter Fifties Expose that is Better than Most of the Decades Attempts at Sensationalism.
Cynicism is Ripely Written into this Tale of Murder, Cover-Up, and Exploitation. John Derek and Henry Morgan Joke about a Splattered Skull making it Impossible to Obtain some "Art" for the Front Page.
From there to the Lonely Hearts Club Dance that is a Parade of Pathetic People, Losers, and just Ordinary Folks that Life has Discarded, the Film Sinks to even Deeper Depths as the Newspaper Sponsored Event is a Backstage to Uncovered Lives, and even more a Discarded and Abandon Wife who ends up A-Float in the Bathtub.
Broderick Crawford is in Typical Form as a Fast Talking, Sweaty, Editor that is Ironically the Catalyst for Circulation to Skyrocket and Fate Closing in. With Donna Reed on hand to Provide a Center of Sanity in this Whirlwind, the Movie is a Taut Testament and Scathing Indictment that does Manage to Provide some Relief and Redemption.
A Bitter Fifties Expose that is Better than Most of the Decades Attempts at Sensationalism.