“Steve,” portrayed by Burt Lancaster, is generally a likable person, but he's got a significant weakness. His former spouse, “Anna” (Yvonne De Carlo), is someone who skillfully controls him and understands how to get her way. Any chance of them getting back together disappears when he learns she’s now married to local crime boss “Slim” (Dan Duryea). As his desperation grows, he develops a clever scheme to gather enough money to win her over, but this action creates an antagonism that neither he nor she is prepared for. While Lancaster is the main attraction, I thought De Carlo was the one who truly stood out as a genuinely wicked and self-centered individual, and Duryea and she share a harmful connection that functions remarkably well as the story progresses, with the infatuated “Steve” becoming increasingly pliable. Beyond having a strong and engaging narrative, the film also benefits from some striking and impactful cinematography—particularly when we witness "Steve's" increasing yearning for his malicious “Anna.” It’s not frequently that Hollywood depicts one of its major stars in such a submissive role, particularly when the character isn’t burdened by alcoholism, and Lancaster effectively portrays the vulnerable and lovesick “Steve” within this shadowy and intensely scored drama. Look out for an early appearance by a nameless Tony Curtis as a male escort, and appreciate the rest of this tightly constructed look at a man who has no command over his own fate.

Source on TMDB