[4] Because Trumbo was blacklisted at the time, the screenplay was credited to his friend, screenwriter Hugo Butler, as a front.

[5] Webb Garwood, a disgruntled cop, is called to investigate a report of a peeping tom by Susan Gilvray, whose husband works nights as a radio personality.

The date of the baby's conception would prove that they lied in their testimonies to hide their previous relationship; it also would suggest that Webb's killing of Susan's husband was intentional.

Webb and Susan flee to Calico, a ghost town, for the baby to be born without anyone back home knowing.

Webb finds the narrow track out of town blocked by his former police partner, who is paying him a surprise visit.

Screenplay writer Dalton Trumbo, a member of the Hollywood 10, was forced to write under a pseudonym, using the name Hugo Butler, a friend of his.

In a twist of irony and a dig at censors, director Joseph Losey cast Trumbo as the voice of the radio DJ, John Gilvray.

Of those working on the film, only Spiegel, Houston, and Losey knew that the screenwriter was the blacklisted Dalton Trumbo.

This is a Joseph Losey American film, made before his self-exile from the 1950s HUAC witch hunt days when he fled to England.

They will play a major role in the motif, adding to the usual noir ones of dark character and sexual misconduct.