A race-track robbery is planned with clockwork precision but Kubrick dispassionately observes how the mechanism is ruined by human fallibility. The intricate flashback structure presents a plot of chess-like moves in a hard boiled, visually stylised underworld richly populated by film noir stereotypes. Based on the novel “Clean Break” by Lionel White. Cast includes Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards and Jay C Flippen.
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
How to watch
Stream, rent or buy via
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
309999
Language
English
Audience classification
PG
Subject categories
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers → Film noir
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Crime
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Robbery
Feature films → Feature films - United States
Literature → American literature - Film and video adaptations
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)