Prison escapee and murderer Hal Wilson and his gang take noted psychologist Dr. Shelby and his family hostage in their own home.

Shelby surmises that every murder that Wilson committed during his criminal career was another subconscious attempt to kill his father.

When the police arrive, Wilson has a clear shot at an officer but sees his father's face and cannot pull the trigger.

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic B. R. Crisler wrote: "Given the present confused state of civilization, the union of Chester Morris and psychoanalysis was probably inevitable; after all, there was no point in these two great artistic and intellectual forces remaining aloof from each other indefinitely.

"[1] Blind Alley was presented on The Screen Guild Theatre radio program on February 25, 1940, starring Edward G. Robinson and Joseph Calleia.