John H. Auer directed and Steve Fisher wrote Hell’s Half Acre, featuring Wendell Corey, Evelyn Keyes, Elsa Lanchester, Marie Windsor, Nancy Gates, and Leonard Strong. R. Dale Butts composed the music, with cinematography by John L. Russell. Given that it was filmed in Hawaii, it seems strange to imagine this could possibly be a film noir. The opening credits even suggest something resembling an Elvis Presley movie—but appearances are deceiving. Cash or Cave In? The plot involves Corey entangled with dangerous women, questionable criminals, and corrupt police officers. This is quite a situation for someone who supposedly died during the attack on Pearl Harbor! Hell’s Half Acre, as referenced in the title, refers to a rundown apartment district—the dark side of what we perceive as paradise. The setting contributes significantly to the film's noir atmosphere, with rows of similar houses and numerous wooden stairs creating a somber environment. At night, shadows become prominent, clinging to the alleys and disreputable bars. Dirty Rat! While perhaps overly elaborate at times, the large number of characters makes any frustrations easily overlooked. The movie presents two-faced women, violent criminals, inebriated individuals, and eccentric taxi drivers—a collection of memorable people appearing throughout Hell’s Half Acre. There's even some suggestive content, although the sense of aggressive sexism could have been toned down. The film boasts serious noir credentials with its creative team: Auer (City That Never Sleeps), Fisher (I Wake Up Screaming), Corey (The Big Knife), Keyes (The Prowler), Windsor (The Narrow Margin), Gates (Suddenly), Lanchester (The Big Clock) and Russell (Moonrise). This only begins to touch on the talent involved. With its unique setting and careful adherence to noir traditions, this is definitely worth watching for fans of the genre. 7/10

Source on TMDB