Produced independently, the film was distributed by Warner Bros., and theatrically released in the United States on March 10, 1956.

[1] Ed Novak (Perry Lopez), a two-bit bookie, goes to prison rather than squeal on his Syndicate higher-ups.

Novak's silence exacts a toll on his wife Frances (Beverly Garland), who is expecting a child.

The longer Novak remains in prison, the more he becomes aware that the mob has deserted him — and the more he's willing to spill what he knows.

Fellow prisoner Steve Marlin (Ted de Corsia) intends to see that Novak keeps his mouth shut permanently.