I've been underwhelmed by the Aldrich and Sherman before, it's no surprise that this is pretty much a dud. I appreciate the pro-labor sentiment, but it's such a lackluster execution. The script is ham-handed and hacky, the music is corny, and except for a couple of supporting players, the performances are lousy. Even Cobb is a disappointment, barely phoning it in. There's a few really nice shots (Aldrich's work, I'm assuming) but for the most part it rarely takes advantage of the wide frame.

All the elements of a decent story are there, but the acting is hammy (other than Lee J Cobb, his talent is wasted in this), and none of it ever seems convincing or comes together in a compelling way. The thugs are lame and the violence is G-rated, even for the late 50's. For quality noir that's actually got some witty writing and real toughness, you gotta go back to the 40's. This is noir-lite.