约翰·法罗执导的一部涉案片，讲述了一个出版大享凭借过人的胆识和智慧为自己洗刷谋杀罪名的故事。影片包容了言情、悬疑诸多元素，情节跌宕起伏，扣人心弦。
　　出版大亨乔纳森拥有世界上最精确、最独特的私人大钟，这个钟造价高过60万美元，可以知道世界任何一个地方的时间。乔治就在这个出版机构任职。多年来，他忙于工作，连和妻子去度蜜月的时间都被突而其来的新闻采访所占去，内心深处觉得非常亏欠妻子。就在他准备休假陪妻子度蜜月时，他卷入了一起谋杀案，他所带领的团队负责向读者披露案件侦破过程，一个又一个的疑点对他相当不利，尽管他是无辜的，在紧张的调查过程中，他利用自己过人的胆识和智慧，为自己洗脱了罪名。

　　On a rainy night in 1928 in a Pennsylvania factory town called Iverstown, Martha Ivers (Janis Wilson), thirteen years old, is trying to escape from the guardianship of her wealthy, domineering aunt. Her friend, the street-smart, poor Sam Masterson (Darryl Hickman), comes for her through her bedroom window, but Martha's aunt catches them. While Sam slips out unnoticed, Martha hits Mrs. Ivers on the head, causing her to fall down the long staircase and die. Though Sam saw nothing, the event was witnessed by Walter O'Neil (Mickey Kuhn), the son of Martha's tutor (Roman Bohnen), known as Mr. O'Neil. Martha lies about the incident to Mr. O'Neil, and Walter supports her.[5]
　　Mr. O'Neil suspects what happened but presents Martha's version of events to the police, that an intruder is responsible; he makes use of his knowledge by having her marry his son. When the police identify a former employee of the aunt as the murderer, the two O'Neils and Martha help convict him; he is punished by hanging.[5]
　　Eighteen years later, the older O'Neil has died. Walter (now played by Kirk Douglas) is the district attorney, while Martha (Barbara Stanwyck) has used her inheritance from her aunt to build a large business empire. Their marriage is one-sided; he loves her, but she does not love him.
　　Sam (Van Heflin), now a drifter and gambler, stops in the small town by chance to have his car repaired after an accident. While waiting for repairs, at his old home, now a boarding house, he meets Antonia "Toni" Marachek (Lizabeth Scott), who has just been released from jail. She is later picked up for violating her probation by not returning to her hometown. Sam goes to see Walter, to see if he can use his influence to get her released.
　　Walter is convinced Sam has returned with blackmail in mind, giving Walter a motive to run Sam out of town. When Martha reacts with joy to the news of Sam's return, Walter's jealousy provides an additional motive. Walter forces Toni to set Sam up. Sam is beaten and driven out of town, but he is too tough to be intimidated. When all else fails, Walter makes a half-hearted attempt to kill Sam himself, but is easily disarmed. Martha then inadvertently blurts out the couple's fears of blackmail, which prove to be groundless: Sam says he did not witness the death. Martha breaks down and laments that he left without her all those years ago, taking with him her only chance for love and freedom.
　　Sam is torn between his old love and his new. Although he eventually forgives Toni for betraying him, he and Martha spend an idyllic day together, rekindling his feelings for her.
　　Walter arranges to meet Sam to finally settle matters. Before Sam arrives, Walter gets drunk and Martha finds out about the meeting. When Walter falls down the stairs and is knocked unconscious, Martha urges Sam to kill him. Sam instead brings Walter around. Martha pulls out a gun and threatens to shoot Sam in "self defense" as an intruder. However, Sam gambles that Walter will not back up her story; he turns his back on her and leaves.
　　Walter embraces and kisses his wife; then he points the gun at her midriff. Oddly relieved, she puts her hand over his hand on the trigger and presses. As she is dying, she defiantly states her name is not Martha Ivers, but Martha Smith. Outside, Sam hears the shot. He runs back toward the mansion, but sees Walter, holding Martha's body, shoot himself. Sam and Toni drive away together.

　　萨姆·斯佩德（亨弗莱·鲍嘉 Humphrey Bogart 饰）和搭档阿切尔在旧金山市开了一家侦探事务所。一天，一位贵妇（玛丽·阿斯特 Mary Astor 饰）登门拜访，委托他们寻找自己失踪的妹妹。他们立刻展开调查，发现这名贵妇的妹妹与一位叫做瑟斯的神秘男子在一起。本 来以为这只是一件普通的失踪案，但是事情的发展出乎他们所料。阿切尔在调查案件时被杀害，传说的瑟斯也相继被杀，警方由此怀疑起萨姆与阿切尔的妻子有染而杀掉他的合伙人。深陷泥潭的萨姆依然继续调查案情，他查出贵妇曾与古特曼等流氓倒卖过古玩，之后，古特曼又拜托萨姆帮忙寻找一尊雕像——被称作“马耳他之鹰”的无价之宝。萨姆开始研究起这尊神秘的雕像，结果发现真相就藏在其中。
　　本片获得第14届奥斯卡最佳影片、最佳男配角、最佳剧本提名奖。

　　影片立足普通投资者，以散户王起来为第一视角，意外卷入一场资本商战的漩涡，三组不同阶层的人物经历了一场黑色荒诞之旅，旨在展现股市众生相，中国股市三十年“投资者心灵自传”，同时也是资本市场潮起潮落，盛衰荣辱的一个缩影。

　　米尔德里德（琼·克劳馥 Joan Crawford 饰）的丈夫蒙特（扎查瑞·斯考特 Zachary Scott 饰）抛弃了妻子，也抛弃了他们的两个女儿。米尔德里德对大女儿维达（安·布莱思 Ann Blyth 饰）尤为溺爱，心中充满了愧疚，宁愿去做卑微的餐厅服务员也要让女儿吃好的穿好的过上等人的生活。在母亲的纵容之下，维达渐渐变成了一个眼中只有荣华富贵的女人。
　　在威利（杰克·卡森 Jack Carson 饰）和艾伯特（布鲁斯·本内特 Bruce Bennett 饰）的帮助下，米尔德里德终于拥有了属于自己的餐厅，一家人终于脱离了苦海，而米尔德里德在艾伯特的身上亦再度找到了爱的感觉。然而，随着时间的推移，米尔德里德发现维达似乎亦在有意无意的勾引着艾伯特，母女之间的感情出现了裂痕。

　　曾在西班牙杀过人的水手Michael O'Hara（奥逊·威尔斯 Orson Welles 饰）回到了纽约，一天夜里他在路上救了遭到打劫的美女Elsa（丽塔·海华斯 Rita Hayworth 饰），于是Elsa让她的丈夫，律师Arthur Bannister（埃弗雷特·斯隆 Everett Sloane 饰）找到Michael，让他来船上当水手。Bannister一家刚从上海回到纽约，正要坐船前往旧金山。在海上航行的时候，Michael和Elsa情愫暗生。而Michael也认识了Arthur的朋友George Grisby（Glenn Anders 饰）。George知道Michael曾经杀过人后，想让Michael再杀一个人，并承诺给他五千美元的佣金，而他想让Michael杀的人，就是George自己。原来George想制造自己已经死了的假象，然后从现在的生活和他的妻子身边逃走。两人的计划看起来天衣无缝，George却失手杀死了Arthur的管家，随后George也真的被杀。Michael被认为是两个死者的凶手，法庭上，为Michael辩论的却是他的情敌Arthur，到底谁才是杀死George的真正凶手？

　　Diplomat is blackmailed for crimes committed while he had amnesia.

　　混上流社会的花花公子自认为如鱼得水，结果犯了禁，无论黑道还是白道的。警察调查他牵扯进的俩重谋杀案其实无关紧要，真正有趣的是他和三个女人的互动，她们都非常迷人。甚至出场不到半分钟的龙套女都很有特色。可惜结局莫名其妙。

　　贝斯手克里斯托弗（亨利·方达 Henry Fonda 饰）与妻子萝丝（维拉·迈尔斯 Vera Miles 饰）过着平静的生活，虽然经济并不宽裕，但幸福的婚姻和可爱的孩子们让克里斯托弗觉得人生再无遗憾。萝丝需要一笔钱去治疗牙痛，囊中羞涩的克里斯托弗决定贷款，而当他拿着单据来到银行后，命运跟他开了一个天大的玩笑。
　　不明就里的克里斯托弗因为抢劫银行被警方逮捕，随着调查的深入，更多对于他的指控浮出了水面，虽然对这些指控毫不知情，但面对确凿的证据和证人，克里斯托弗哑口无言。在被保释后，克里斯托弗和萝丝委托律师开始调查整个事件的来龙去脉，可发现的所有线索都对克里斯托弗不利。正当夫妻两人开始绝望之时，事情出现的转机。

　　Beloved priest Father Thomasino is murdered in a San Francisco alley, and the police have few clues. But traffic cop Joe Martini becomes obsessed with finding the killer; he suspects Sylvio Malatesta. Ordered off the case, Joe turns in his badge and investigates alone. Soon he is a close friend of the Malatesta family, all delightful people, especially lovely cousin Anna. Uncertain whether Sylvio is guilty or innocent, Joe is now torn between old and new loyalties. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

　　在和律师狱友Tony Jardine一起服刑之后，私家侦探Bradford Galt 从旧金山搬到纽约，可是他发现有人一直尾随其后，而且可能还想杀了他，他认为Tony Jardine就在幕后操控。他将和他漂亮的女秘书一起，揭开这桩阴谋背后的秘密...

　　Two detectives are investigating a robbery in which $300,000 was taken. Their investigation leads them to the main player and they find the cash, but one of them has meanwhile fallen hard for a woman with expensive tastes, and though he desperately wants to keep her, he knows that a cop's salary isn't going to be enough for her.

　　Philip Marlowe（亨弗莱·鲍嘉 Humphrey Bogart 饰）是一个私家侦探，这天他接到邀请来到General Sternwood的家中，Sternwood让马洛调查关于他女儿的一笔债务，他的女儿Carmen Sternwood 欠了一个叫Geiger的人一笔赌债。在Marlowe想要离开的时候，Sternwood的大女儿Vivian（劳伦·白考尔 Lauren Bacall 饰）栏下了他，告诉他其实她父亲找他来调查的真正目的是为了寻找一个失踪的朋友，Marlow将信就疑。第二天Marlow去寻找Geiger，在Geiger家门前却听到一声枪声，等Marlow进去的时候，却只发现了Geiger的尸体还有被绑住的Carmen Sternwood（玛塔·威克斯 Martha Vickers 饰），还有一台相机。Marlow带走了相机并把Carmen送回家，等到Marlow再回到现场时，却发现Geiger的尸体已经不见了。而Sternwood家的司机也因车祸身亡。案件变得越来越扑朔迷离，这些事情间到底有什么联系？Marlowe能否发现真相？
　　本片改编自侦探小说作家雷蒙德·钱德勒的同名小说。

　　比尔（罗伯特·瑞安 Robert Ryan 饰）是一名职业拳击手，他和女友朱莉（奥黛丽·托特 Audrey Totter 饰）之间的感情十分要好，朱莉是他在比赛中的精神支柱。时常生活在窘困之中的比尔好胜心非常的强，因为输掉比赛意味着他将颗粒无收，所以他必须赢。
　　在一场比赛中，比尔的对手是名为奈尔森（哈尔·贝勒 Hal Baylor 饰）的强壮男子，在比赛之前，教练告诉比尔，这是一场被黑道操纵的比赛，在擂台上，比尔必须认输。然而，在激烈的比赛之中，处于劣势的比尔不愿屈服与黑帮的强权，最终靠着惊人的实力达到了奈尔森。比尔虽然赢得了比赛，却惹恼了一直在背地里操纵着比赛的黑帮。

　　1948年，洛杉矶的经济突趋繁荣，满怀希望的军人伊斯退役后到洛杉矶寻找工作，满怀信心的他，以为像他这样出色的黑人在洛杉矶不难找到合适的位置，怎料好不容易才找到一份在机场内当技工的工作，但不久又被老板解雇，更被房东催收欠租。就在绝望边缘之际，他受聘于神秘男子狄维去找寻一个失踪女子黛芬，而伊斯也因此而堕进狄维的圈套，他也不知不觉间被牵涉到恐吓、谋杀、政治的纠缠之中。

　　John Muller, medical school dropout and brilliant crook, plans a holdup which goes a little bit wrong, and finds vindictive gambler Rocky Stansyck after him. At the end of his tether, he stumbles onto a lucky chance to assume an impenetrable new identity as psychiatrist Victor Bartok. But irony piles on as Muller finds it's out of the frying pan, into the fire.

一战以后，犯罪片也逐渐在美国繁荣起来，这一时期，观众和艺术家普遍对事物不乐观。不少士兵、小业主和家庭主妇、工厂雇员对回到和平时期经济状况时的幻灭感，直接反映在城市犯罪片的暗淡色彩中，影片《怒吼的二十年代》就是这一现象的集中体现。 三个军人在一战之后回到了20年代的美国，赫特成了律师，哈利成了私酒贩子，艾迪打算当出租车司机。由于禁酒时期的私酒赚钱容易，艾迪和史密斯也参加了私酒买卖并与哈利成了伙伴，但这种生意的残酷使艾迪感到厌恶，他又尝试去做股票生意。1929年的经济萧条使他倾家荡产。艾迪听说哈利想要谋杀他的同伙哈特，因为哈特实际上是执法吏，艾迪杀死了哈利但自己也死在对方枪手的枪口下。

　　过气演员诺玛（葛洛丽亚·斯旺森 Gloria Swanson 饰）已经将近50岁，曾经的风华绝代正在她居住的荒废豪宅里慢慢凋谢，身边只有好友马克思（埃里克·施特罗海姆Erich von Stroheim）伺奉。她没放弃重燃光辉的梦想，《莎乐美》的剧本正待编写，而逃避债务逃至此地的没落编剧乔（威廉·霍尔登 William Holden饰），正是这项事业的最佳候选。诺玛收留他住下，给他提供舒适的环境写作，并慢慢的倾心于他。但是，乔并不能接受这个青春已逝的妇人。他拒绝了她，并转过身和另一个美丽的女子谋划新的剧本，他们相爱，打得火热。
　　诺玛得知了乔的“背叛”，她卑微地哀求他，却动摇不了他渐行渐远的心，诺玛终于举起枪对准正要离开的乔。

　　Walter Williams (Brian Donlevy) is a take-charge captain of industry who has worked his way up in a San Francisco steel company from a position as a sheet metal worker. He loves his wife Irene (Helen Walker) very much and they have planned a vacation drive together. Irene cancels at the last minute claiming a toothache, but asks that Walter drive her cousin Jim Torrance (Tony Barrett) as far as Illinois. Walter agrees and he and Jim take off together but later Jim knocks Walter unconscious and takes the car only to be hit himself by a truck and killed, his body burned beyond recognition. Walter comes to and suffering a concussion and deep confusion from feeling betrayed by Irene hides out in a small Midwest town until guilt and peer pressure force him to go back to San Francisco and tell his story to the Police. But by the time Walter returns to San Francisco a clever detective Lieutenant Quincy (Charles Coburn) has uncovered some facts about Irene and her cousin' Jim. The police have been holding Irene for the murder of her husband Walter but release her considering that Walter was hiding out because he had killed Jim. Along the way to uncovering the truth in Court Walter realizes some hard fact about what he holds valuable and the trust he has put in those around him.

　　一部描写盗匪的影片。汉弗莱博加特饰演一名刚服刑完满的犯人,遇上昔日拍挡, 此人由于身染重病,想在临终前联同他再做一次大买卖…

　　乔安（西尔维娅·西德尼 Sylvia Sidney 饰）在公共治安防卫队工作，这也就意味着，她平日里打交道的，都是一些非常危险的犯罪分子。好巧不巧的是，乔安竟然爱上了其中的一个，那是一个名叫艾迪（亨利·方达 Henry Fonda 饰）的男人。
　　高大英俊的艾迪给予了乔安一种错觉，那就是他本质上其实是一个好人，只不过一时走火入魔才走上了犯罪的道路。乔安坚信通过自己的努力，能够使艾迪改邪归正重返社会。在乔安的帮助之下，艾迪通过良好的表现获得了减刑，并且最终刑满出狱，之后乔安和艾迪携手步入了婚姻的殿堂。然而，一个人的本性真的能够如此轻易的被改变吗？

　　Bachelor Harry Quincey, head designer in a small-town cloth factory, lives with his selfish sisters, glamorous hypochondriac Lettie and querulous widow Hester. His developing relationship with new colleague Deborah Brown promises happiness at last...thwarted by passive, then increasingly active opposition from one sister. Will Harry resort to desperate measures?