When the story begins, the mobster, Vic (Jeff Chandler),is arriving in Italy. But it's not for vacation nor pleasaure...Vic was deported back to the country of his birth, as he's an 'undesireable' and just finished a five year sentence in prison. As for Vic, he doesn't seem especially reformed though his uncle and his family who take him in don't realize why Vic is in Italy...and they take him under their wing. But Vic has $100,000 in stolen dough hidden back in the States...and he plans on retrieving it and enjoying life with his ill-gotten gains.

The story is a definite change of pace for Chandler...not only because he plays a jerk but because of its locale. The film was actually made in Italy and it's nice seeing locations such as Siena. The story itself is pretty good and I think it's good enough that I actually considered giving the picture an 8.

Jeff Chandler has served a term in prison for armed robbery and has been deported back to Italy. No one has ever seen the hundred thousand dollars he stole, and his old partner, Richard Rober, wants his half. Chandler beats him up and tells him he's out. As Chandler settles into his birth town near Naples -- actual setting is in Tuscany, stunningly shot by William Daniels -- he meets Countess Märta Torén and several black market operators. When the Countess persuades him to help out her food relief program with money, what's going on in his mind?

It's a nice caper film, and Chandler's character is nicely written and performed under the direction of Robert Siodmak. This New York Jewish actor (born Ira Grossel) certainly played a lot of ethnic types in his early starring roles!

This film noir set in post war Naples is just a so-so entry in the plethora of the dozens of similar post war social dramas, notable for being Robert Siodmark's last American film and one of the first leads for the ruggedly handsome Jeff Chandler. He's an Italian born mobster, in the United States since childhood and after serving time in San Quentin, is deported back to his hometown where he intends to restart his criminal life to get one quick money grab before going on his way to parts unknown. But the love of a beautiful countess (Marta Toren) softens him, leading him to try to stop the robbery he organized already in progress. However, when you live by violence and graft, it's difficult to escape that and more violence erupts in his attempt to stop the robbery he organized from going through.

Filmed on location, this has its moments of thrills but often, is softened from its darker themes with too much provincial ideals. Chandler's character is perfectly defined, but Toren's not so much, too good to be true, and willing to sacrifice everything for the man she loves, even when she finds out what he's up to. The locations are stunning, and the setting rich in detail. I just didn't buy what the script was trying to sell me. Claude Dauphin, as an amoral acquaintance of Chandler's gives a rich performance of sinister charm and pretty much steals the film. So much potential wasted for twists and turns that convolute the plot and take it down destructive paths of unbelievability.