The RKO Pictures film release was the only cinematic collaboration between Clurman and his former Group Theatre associate, screenwriter Odets.

Sleepy Parsons, a blind piano player, arrives at the apartment of his ex-wife Edna Bartelli, who owes him $1,400 (equivalent to $21,874 in 2023).

Nearby a newsstand in New York City, Alex Winkley wakes up with a hazy memory having been drinking the night before, and discovers the cash in his pocket.

With seven hours left before he departs for duty, Alex approaches June Goffe, a dance hall girl, at a night club.

They suspect a man had killed Edna by strangulation, and although June is at first reluctant, she and Alex decide to retrace the killer's steps.

They involve Gus in the investigation, and locate Edna's letters intending to blackmail multiple past lovers and a bad check signed by Lester Brady.

June and Gus return back to the apartment, and using a white carnation as a clue, they drive down to a nightclub where Sleepy Parsons is performing.

Richard Fleischer says that Sid Rogell, head of RKO's B Picture unit, bullied Harold Clurman during production meetings, saying he would "kick the director right in the balls".

There are many "slice of life" characterizations of big city people in small roles, such as a tired banana salesman, an angry building superintendent, a refugee with a skin condition who has a crush on June, and a wisecracking sidewalk pitchman.

Odets' Group Theatre colleague Roman Bohnen appears in a bit part, as a grief-stricken man with a dying cat.

Though enjoyable by virtue of its distorted mise-en-scène, affection for NYC characters and its misplaced chatter, this is not art but run-of-the-mill film noir.

Cinematographer Nick Musuraca does a fine job creating an atmospheric scene of NYC's downtrodden and unhappy souls roaming the dark streets.