Directed by John Farrow, it is a retelling of the Faust myth,[1] and is also known as Dark Circle, Strange Temptation and Alias Nicky Beal.

Joseph Foster is an honest district attorney who wants to clean up the criminal underworld, but cannot catch their leader, Frankie Faulkner, no matter how hard he tries.

After a foiled attempt to obtain critical evidence to convict an underling of Faulkner's named Hanson, Foster is left reeling.

At that moment he receives an invitation to meet with a smooth talking stranger named Nick Beal at a seedy bar beside the docks.

A 1949 review of the film in The New York Times held that, "Due to the fine acting and the wily direction, the story plays exceptionally well, but the script tends to be somewhat wobbly and indecisive upon reflection.