In a somewhat perverse bit of casting, Mickey Rooney stars opposite the inimitable Peter Lorre in this gem of a noir. Rooney plays a mechanic named Dan, a naive young man who fancies himself something of a ladies man. He begins his descent into the world of crime when he falls for a blonde named Vera (Jeanne Cagney), whom he promises an expensive date. Unfortunately, Dan is a bit short on cash, so he takes $20 from his shop's register and spends it all, thinking he'll be able to replace it before anyone notices. When he can't, Dan begins a downward spiral that starts with petty crime but quickly turns into something much worse.