When a career criminal serving another stretch (Mature) learns his kids are in trouble, he breaks code by turning informant, those he exposed learning of his cooperation while the D. A. (Donlevy) proves impotent in both prosecution and protection, hence, the drama. Supporting cast includes cop Karl Malden (Waterfront), dirty lawyer Taylor Holmes (Quicksand) and comely Coleen Gray (KC-Confidential Red-River) in her first credited part as Nettie, the baby-sitter-turned femme swell.
It is giggling gangster Tommy Udo (Widmark's Oscar nom'd premiere) who is topic of conversation whenever KOD is on schedule, to the glee of film-creep connoisseurs, but it's Vic's conflicted crook turned caring father who gives this movie its guts, Nick's anguish and rare insights into the mental maneuvers of a stoolie, something Goodfellas' Henry Hill leaves blank. Besides, Richard really excelled playing the good guy (The-Bedford-Incident) and dubious dudes (Pickup-On-South-St) which is why Udo feels over-the-top as a caricature of evil (wheelchair incident). Forties movie-goers may've felt the same as Kiss failed at the box-office, the contrived ending no help (2.5/4).
It is giggling gangster Tommy Udo (Widmark's Oscar nom'd premiere) who is topic of conversation whenever KOD is on schedule, to the glee of film-creep connoisseurs, but it's Vic's conflicted crook turned caring father who gives this movie its guts, Nick's anguish and rare insights into the mental maneuvers of a stoolie, something Goodfellas' Henry Hill leaves blank. Besides, Richard really excelled playing the good guy (The-Bedford-Incident) and dubious dudes (Pickup-On-South-St) which is why Udo feels over-the-top as a caricature of evil (wheelchair incident). Forties movie-goers may've felt the same as Kiss failed at the box-office, the contrived ending no help (2.5/4).