I had heard that Dick Powell had made this movie to change his image from a song and dance man to that of a tough guy. I watched it last night on TCM and tough guy he wasn't. I was waiting for him to break into a song at any time. My neighbor could have made a better tough guy than him. I think that William Bendix in the time that he was bully would have made a much better Marlowe. If you want to the part done right, don't miss the remake with Robert Mitchum.