Thieves' Highway (1949)

An ex-GI (Richard Conte), now working as a trucker, is bent on satisfaction from the man responsible for crippling his father (Morris Carnovsky). But when the ruthless market operator (Lee J. Cobb) gets wise to his plan, treachery and heartbreak follow. Based on the novel THIEVES' MARKET by A.I. Bezzerides (who adapted his book for the screen) and directed by Jules Dassin (NEVER ON SUNDAY). Like his THE NAKED CITY, Jules Dassin shot this film on actual locations (in this case, San Francisco) rather than studio soundstages. The movie is much admired by film noir fans and while it's an effectively gritty look at corruption and duplicity in the produce market of the day, I found it rather pedestrian. Conte makes the perfect noir protagonist and Norbert Brodine's (KISS OF DEATH) dark and shadowy cinematography emphasizes the noir atmosphere and goes a long way in giving authenticity to the plot. With Valentina Cortese, Barbara Lawrence, Millard Mitchell, Jack Oakie and Tamara Shayne.