The economy of story in this is sublime. There’s Robert Ryan and his anger, and later Ida Lupino and her compassion, and just enough story hung on them to get by. It’s pure stereotype but it’s beautiful. 

The brief eruptions of action are special, particularly for the era. When Ryan and Ward Bond come to blows, it’s sudden and sharp and it feels dangerous in a way I don’t expect from a 50s movie. All the violence in this movie feels dangerous, which is interesting.