Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

I am a great lover of Phil Karlson's movies, always a lot of tension, tough fights, and he often studies corruption in USA (remember the true story in "the Phenix City Story"). "99 River Street" is certainly one of his best movies thanks to a tense script with lot of twists. The casting is fabulous : John Payne is tougher than ever. There are some sex scenes quite unusual. I really don't understand why there isn't any book on Phil Karlson, he is one of the true masters of B movies.

One of Only a Fistfull of Pure Film-Noir from the 1950's. It is a Hard-Hitting, Exceptionally Photographed, and Well-Acted, for the most part, Entry in the Genre that has more than One Riveting, Unforgettable Scenes.This is the Story of an Ex-Boxer, not so Humbly accepting his Fall and Lot in Life as a Cab Driver, that gets Hit with a Cheating Wife, Framed for Murder, and Encounters some Low-Life Brutes. His Prowess as an Ex-Pug (as His Condescending Wife calls Him) comes in Handy.There is some Stunning Noir Lighting and Angles but it is the Brutality and some Sexuality that Highlight this Solid and Highly Entertaining Movie. There is some Overacting by Evelyn Keyes, but John Payne, Brad Dexter, and some Sharp Support from Secondary Characters Ring the Bell.Somewhat Overlooked and Overshadowed by Director Phil Karlson's Kansas City Confidential (1952). But this is a much more Satisfying Noir and Overall a Better Example of a Tough and Tense Style that is more than Recommended, it is Essential Viewing.

Poor Ernie. He takes a beating in the boxing ring, and then even a bigger one from two heartless women. You can just feel his smoldering emotion about to explode like a hand grenade on that theatre stage. All those theatre types rushing around patting themselves on the back, while he stands there, the disbelieving dupe. As the luckless boxer turned cabbie turned fall guy, Payne's great. The anguish all over his cracked face. So how's he going to get back his self-respect when he keeps getting the short end of the stick. Now he's up for a murder rap unless he can track down the slippery Rawlins (Dexter), which doesn't get any easier especially after the cagey slickster puts a bullet hole in him. Rarely have I seen a movie where the lead takes such a beating.But what can he expect when he's got that silken tramp Peggie Castle (Pauline) for a wife. Who could trust her around any man. Too bad actress Castle died so young; she was so good in these heartless roles. Then there's Eveline Keyes as Linda who can't seem to decide which side of the fence she's on. At least as an actress Keyes could give a graduate course in how to over-act, judging from the movie's first half. This is a typical Phil Karlson film—you can feel the characters' pain even if it is up there on the movie screen. At times, Karlson's close-ups are a stunning portrait of agony. It's noir, for sure, even if the focus is more on character than shadowy atmosphere, though there's still a lot of the latter. At times the plot gets a little confusing, but that's okay since Ernie's supposed to be up against dark forces he can barely distinguish. Anyway, it's first-rate thick- ear, showing why Karlson's considered a master of crime drama that makes us not just see but feel as well.

The only reason I watched this clunker was it was on Turner Movies and has touted so highly by the guest that night. Yes, the settings are truly good film noir. And the plot had its high moments ... and low ones. The twist in the theatre was imaginative, if not believable. But the idea that this actress (where did they find her??? Was she really sleeping with the producer of THIS movie)would give up her so sought after part to follow the boxer around like puppy dog was ludicrous. As was her "acting." it's no wonder this movie is "unknown." Better it had stayed that way! The lead actor is quite good and the supporting cast is also, for the most part. I wasn't in NYC in the 50's, but I'll bet this is the way it was as for atmosphere.