Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949)

With the help of a convict (Dan Duryea), a San Francisco based U.S. Treasury agent (Howard Duff) goes undercover to help expose a narcotics ring working out of Arizona. Directed by William Castle (HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL), this routine noir crime thriller is amiable enough to pass the time with but not essential film noir. Although third billed, it's Dan Duryea's title character who gets our attention rather than Duff's stiff as a board federal agent. It's an opportunity for Duryea to expand his usual tough guy persona. When they meet, it appears that Duff's law and order guy will be our "hero" but as the movie progresses, it's Duryea's character that proves to have more humanity and heart than Duff's by the book law officer. So who does Shelley Winters as a mobster's moll end up with? You'd be surprised! As a mute (so his Bronx accent won't distract) assassin, Tony Curtis (billed as Anthony Curtis) in only his third movie manages to hold the camera without saying a word. A sure sign that a future star was in the making. With John McIntire, Barry Kelley and Leif Erickson.