Thieves' Highway (1949)

Returning from the battlefield, the joyous soldier Nick Garcos comes home laden with presents for his parents Yanko and Parthena and dreams of opening a business and marrying his sweetheart, Polly Faber. However, his joy turns to horror when he discovers his father, once a robust truck driver, now legless. Yanko reveals a tale of betrayal by the cunning dealer Mike Figlia in San Francisco, who swindled him out of payment for a truckload of tomatoes and may have been behind the accident that cost him his legs. To make matters worse, Yanko's truck is now being held by a driver named Ed Kinney who hasn't paid his due. Nick, fueled by a sense of justice, confronts Ed and demands his father's truck back. Ed, however, has a tempting proposition - a lucrative apple deal that could bring in a hefty profit. Nick, seeing potential, invests his savings in another truck and purchases a load of apples from a Polish farmer. The race is on to get the apples to the San Francisco market as fresh as possible, but Ed's truck falters, leaving Nick to arrive first. Enter Mike Figlia, who employs the enchanting Italian siren Rica to distract Nick. But Rica, touched by Nick's integrity, falls for him instead, revealing Mike's plot to rob him of his cargo. Cornered, Mike is compelled to share his earnings with Nick, who finds himself unexpectedly wealthy. Invigorated by his victory, Nick calls Polly and proposes they elope. However, Rica warns Nick that Polly's love may only extend to his newfound wealth. When Nick is subsequently attacked and robbed by Mike's henchmen, he comes to a realisation about who truly holds his heart. Yet, he still has a score to settle with Mike, a showdown that promises to be as gripping as the tale that led to it.

Thieves' Highway is a crime movie featuring Richard Conte and directed by Jules Dassin.

Thieves' Highway is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.