Harper is a cynical private eye in the best tradition of Bogart. He even has Bogie's Baby hiring him to find her missing husband, getting involved along the way with an assortment of unsavory characters and an illegal-alien smuggling ring.
By combining flamboyant suspense with a sunbaked slice of life and lots of good mean fun, Director Smight makes every clue a pleasure to follow.
– ,
TIME Magazine,
30 Sep 2008
fresh:
[Newman] is too fresh, too ruggedly good looking to be consistent as the sort of beat-up slob that his shady detective is intended to be and as Mr. Bogart used to be.
– Bosley Crowther,
New York Times,
9 May 2005
fresh:
Enjoyable performances throughout. Just the same, a very minor Big Sleep.
– Derek Adams,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
fresh:
Director Jack Smight has inserted countless touches which illuminate each character to the highest degree.