In New York City, the police investigate the murder of an attractive young woman, Jean Dexter. Led by Det. Lt. Dan Muldoon (Barry Fitzgerald) and Det. Jimmy Halloran, they suspect a suicide but the coroner confirms that it's murder. Their initial suspect is her boyfriend, Frank Niles. He's less than honest with them on a number of things but has an alibi. The police slowly gather evidence and bit by bit, start to paint a picture of what happened. The solution to the crime centers on identifying jewel thieves who have been robbing the rich.

US Post Office, 421 8th Avenue and West 33rd Street, Manhattan.

West 20th street and 8th Avenue, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: Most of the street scenes were shot on location in New York without the public's knowledge. Photographer William H. Daniels and his uncredited assistant Roy Tripp filmed people on the streets using a hidden camera from the back of an old moving van. Occasionally, a fake newsstand with a hidden camera inside was also set up on the sidewalk to secretly film the actors. Director Jules Dassin hired a juggler to distract the crowds, and also hired a man to occasionally climb up on a light post and give a patriotic speech, while waving an American flag to get the crowd's attention.

Madison Avenue and East 66th Street, Manhattan.

Chemist Shop, 773 Madison Avenue and East 66th Street, Manhattan.

Subway Station, Lexington Avenue and East 103rd Street, Manhattan.

10th Police Precinct, 230 West 20th Street and 7th Avenue, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: Although the doorway shows number 52, it is in fact number 46.

46 West 83rd Street and Central Park West, Manhattan.

Amsterdam Avenue and West 72nd Street, Manhattan.

State Office Building, 80 Centre Street and Worth Street, Manhattan.

Times Square (Broadway, 7th Avenue, West 42nd and 47th Streets) Manhattan.

Williamsburg Bridge (Delancey Street, Manhattan to Williamsburg, Brooklyn).

otsoNY Comments: In the scene where Muldoon and Halloran are shown entering an apartment house on Park Avenue, the awning shows the address "478". The building is actually 480 Park Avenue, one of the residential buildings designed by noted architect Emory Roth.

480 Park Avenue and East 58th Street, Manhattan.

5th Avenue and East 57th Street, Manhattan.

745 5th Avenue and East 57th Street, Manhattan.

West 15th Street (btw 9th and 10th Avenues) Manhattan.