A lot better than you'd expect from MGM with one of these things. Good score (except for the titles sequence). Cassavetes is excellent (and restrained, for once!), though Poitier perhaps overplays the ebullient larger-than-life bit. Still, looked pretty much like what it is (a Golden Age of TV classic play stretched into a feature). Most of the backstory stuff I found distracting, rather than adding to the movie's power. And the finale seemed sort of...well, goofy.

Cassavetes is splendid and ever so natural in this overdramatized film about yet another severely misunderstood kid in the 50's. "Dad, will you really take me?!" At times it might as well have been a Cassavates-film cutting off scenes roughly and looking a bit too low budget (these films should have an average scene length, as most scenes are made to make a single point. One.). But another star in the making, Sidney Poitier, makes it worth it, dare say.

I mainly wanted to see this because of Ruby Dee, who has a substantial supporting role... which she's stellar in. But the film is quite a good combination of character drama and film noir, with winning performances from Cassavetes and Poitier, who have a really charming rapport together. The cinematography is solid, but the score is laid on rather thick. The movie covers a lot of progressive issues... not in the most intriguing or brilliant manner, but I appreciate the sentiment.

Interesting with regard to seeing the lives of 50's laborers and the nightlife they enjoyed to take their minds off their work. However, the slow plot makes this film badly dated and the questionable acting (even from the usually reliable Poitier) leaves the viewer struggling to get through. Mild spoilers: The abrupt ending also leaves you unsatisfied.