This is a tricky and complex thriller that just turns itself into more complicated knots as the intrigues, the mysteries and the murders just go on, and finally everything is neatly sorted out but with most astonishing results. The one who makes the greatest impression here is actually Cameron Mitchell with his crutches, which he handles more than professionally and which repeatedly come in handy. Susan Clark also makes a great impression for her beauty and intelligence, while she also turns out something else than you had expected in the end. Burt Lancaster, who co-wrote and co-directed the film with Roland Kibbee, plays the dishonoured cop who gets out on parole after some time in prison after having killed his wife's lover. He gets back on track as a nightwatchman and almost instantly runs into complex troubles that demand his abilities as an experienced policeman. There are many traps on his way, he passes all the tests and remains an honest policeman as he always was, to the end. Harris Yulin makes a wonderful character as the inspector in charge who is immersed into bogs of trouble because of Burt's penchant for attracting cases. The thriller is very psychological, there is even a psychology professor to make matters worse, and who could possibly sort out all those mixed up relationships? Well, Burt does the job.