The Kiss Of Death (1947)

Story revolves around a former robber played by Victor Mature and the ruthless, 

violent Tommy Udo, played by Richard Widmark

  Narrated by Nettie. On Christmas Eve, down-on-his-luck Nick Bianco, an ex-convict, and his three cohorts rob a jewelry store located on an upper floor of a New York skyscraper. Before they can exit the building, however, the proprietor sets off his alarm. While attempting to escape, Nick assaults a policeman, but is wounded in the leg and arrested. The Assistant DA tries to persuade Nick to name his accomplices in exchange for a light sentence. Confident that his lawyer and cohorts will look after his wife and two young daughters while he is incarcerated, Nick refuses and is given a twenty-year sentence. Three years later, at Sing Sing Prison, He learns that his wife has committed suicide, and his daughters have been sent to an orphanage. He later finds her obituary in the newspaper and learns his wife had been worried over financial issues prior to her death Nick is visited in prison by Nettie , a young woman who used to babysit his girls. Nettie reluctantly tells Nick that his wife had an affair with Pete Rizzo, one of his accomplices. Nick then decides to tell all to the Assistant DA. Because so much time has elapsed,  he cannot use Nick's information to reduce his sentence, but instead makes a deal that if Nick helps the police on another case, he will be paroled.

Cast

Victor Mature as Nick Bianco
Brian Donlevy as Assistant District Attorney Louis D'Angelo
Coleen Gray as Nettie
Mildred Dunnock as Mrs. Rizzo
Richard Widmark as Tommy Udo
Taylor Holmes as Earl Howser, Attorney
Howard Smith as Warden
Karl Malden as Sergeant William Cullen
Anthony Ross as Big Eddie Williams
Millard Mitchell as Detective Shelby
J. Scott Smart as Skeets

 

Directed by

 Henry Hathaway