When the film begins, John (Sterling Hayden) is a preacher in the middle of his Sunday morning service when into the church struggles his wife...drunk our of her skull! Not surprisingly, this causes problems with the elders and they push John to send her away for treatment. But he's a proud and foolish man and soon, without help, the wife is dead...from a suicide. Now John's bitter...so bitter he leaves the ministry and does so angrily. In fact, he's so angry that he's soon living on Skid Row...just another angry bum. So how can John reclaim his life and do something to turn around his awful life? See the film and find out for yourself.
Hayden is, as usual, excellent--which comes as no surprise. As far as the plot goes, it's one that worked well back in the less jaded early 1950s. Today, some might see the whole thing as a bit hokey...which is due, in part, to how jaded we've become over the years. I am NOT trying to be preachy myself here...just pointing out how attitudes have changed over the decades. Overall, I found it to be an interesting and earnest film...one worth seeing if you get a chance.
Hayden is, as usual, excellent--which comes as no surprise. As far as the plot goes, it's one that worked well back in the less jaded early 1950s. Today, some might see the whole thing as a bit hokey...which is due, in part, to how jaded we've become over the years. I am NOT trying to be preachy myself here...just pointing out how attitudes have changed over the decades. Overall, I found it to be an interesting and earnest film...one worth seeing if you get a chance.