L'engrenage fatal

John Ireland is a cold blooded and vile villain and Hugh Beaumont is an honest detective who's not so sure that he and his fellow overzealous cops have the right suspect (Ed Kelly) in the murder of a police officer in a gangland robbery. Toss in an evil cat fight between Sheila Ryan and Jane Randolph and "Railroaded!" becomes a prime example of Anthony Mann' superior post-war Film Noir direction. Using low lights and a suggestive script despite a low budget and grade "B" actors, Mann jumps right into the action from the start with a botched robbery that leads to not just the death of a cop, but the railroading of an innocent man. Mann builds the story up with tension and skill until the taught finale filled with gun shots, breaking glass, and confusing camera angles. It may be a "B" movie, but Mann deserves a "A" for his effort.