Ed Begley portrays "Burke," a former police officer seeking retribution and burdened by debt, who devises an intricate plan to rob a bank. He intends to enlist the help of two individuals. The first is the stylish "Ingram" (Harry Belafonte), while the second is the more rough-edged "Slater" (Robert Ryan). At first, neither man wants any part in his idea, but “Burke” understands how to persuade them, and before long, they’re all working together on this risky operation. To be frank, the story itself isn't particularly remarkable. What truly distinguishes it is the work of the three main actors. The racial friction between "Slater" and "Ingram" feels very real, and as events unfold, it becomes apparent that they are just as likely to turn their weapons on each other as they are to collaborate in the robbery. This growing sense of suspicion and outright animosity is effectively shown by Robert Wise as the story nears its end (though the outcome is somewhat foreseeable) and matters reach a critical point. I’ve never considered Ryan to be an actor with a wide range, but he's ideally suited for this role, creating a feeling of menace that says a lot about attitudes in America during the late 1950s. Gloria Grahame has a very small part, as does Shelley Winters – and they both contribute to keeping the situation from escalating too quickly, even though we know it inevitably will. It's a well-structured and thoughtfully written exploration of human greed and prejudice that remains worth seeing.

Source on TMDB