In the snowy mountains a gangster named Charlie Blake (Wilde) seeks shelter in the cabin of his brother, Fred (Dan Duryea). Charlie has been shot and needs to rest before he can continue his escape.
Charlie arrives with Edna Rogers (Lee Grant) and Benji (Steven Hill). Living with Fred is his beautiful wife Elizabeth (Jean Wallace) and their son David (David Stollery). It becomes very clear that Charlie and Elizabeth once had a relationship and that David is Charlie's son.
This makes for a very tense situation which is exacerbated by Benji who is quick to violence and killing. As the storm rages inside the cabin it also rages outside as the snow begins to pile up and the three gangsters find that they cannot leave.
Charlie, after much has gone on gets David to lead the three over a mountain peak on foot so they can evade the slowly closing in police. Benji pushes Edna off of a cliff and forces Charlie and David to leave her. Benji only wants the money they stole and will take any life to get it.
This is a very well made film that really kept my attention. I had never seen it until this Blu-ray viewing. The entire cast is excellent. Wallace is perfect as the beautiful wife of a very wimpy Dan Duryea. Lee Grant is Edna, and although her role is small, she really makes you feel for her character. Steven Hill makes Benji a character that fits perfectly into the noir landscape. Dennis Weaver also has a good role as the handyman who is in love with Elizabeth as well.
The outdoor scenes were filmed in Sun Valley, Idaho very near where I live. If you are a film noir fan, you will want to check this out. Highly Recommended!!
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