Henry Hathaway directs this noir crime drama. When petty crook Nick Bianco (Victor Mature) gets caught in the act and sent to jail he decides not to rat on his criminal buddies, believing his family will be looked after while he's serving time. But after learning that his depressed wife has killed herself, Nick relents and tells the authorities what they want to know. Now free on parole, Nick assumes a new identity with a new wife and family, unaware that former accomplice Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark), a psychopathic killer, has been released and is looking for revenge...