The People Against O'Hara is a 1951 American crime film noir directed by John Sturges and based on Eleazar Lipsky's novel.

After a long "vacation", he has attempted to settle into less demanding civil law to make it to an overdue but financially postponed retirement.

Johnny's boss, Bill Sheffield, was shot and robbed during the night on the stairs of his home by two people in an older coupe.

The counselor confides in Ricks, his old friend, that his mind is failing him, the toll of age, drink, the stakes, and a competent younger adversary he cannot better.

Approached in the bar by the eyewitness, a Norwegian seaman, Sven Norson, with an offer to change his story, Curtayne caves to his demons and writes out a $500 personal check.

A tale planted by Pete about a "gold bar" that the victim was carrying in an empty suitcase found in Johnny’s car again fails scrutiny.

It turns out to be the eldest Korvac brother, who tells him Knuckles is dead, abducts Curtayne, and marches him, suitcase in hand, toward the river and certain death.

Even a last-ditch effort of a police woman who volunteers to intercept the pair fails in a hail of gunfire, with Curtayne felled point-blank by Korvacs.

Moved by Curtayne's heroism, Barra tells Ricks he will have to find someone else to press the bribery indictment against the wounded man, because he will not.

[1] Bosley Crowther of The New York Times called the film "a curiously old-fashioned courtroom drama" that "moved ploddingly".

[4] A Variety reviewer wrote, "A basically good idea for a film melodrama [from a novel by Eleazar Lipsky] is cluttered up with too many unnecessary side twists and turns, and the presentation is uncomfortably overlong.