The film was shot almost entirely on location in New York, which was highly unusual for its time. The crew used guerrilla filmmaking methods to capture authentic street life: cinematographer William H. Daniels and his assistant Roy Tripp hid cameras in the back of an old truck and inside fake newsstands on sidewalks to secretly film actors among real passersby. Director Jules Dassin even hired a juggler and a man who climbed lampposts to give patriotic speeches while waving an American flag — all to distract the crowd from the filming. The plot follows detectives investigating the murder of a young woman named Jean Dexter, initially thought to be a suicide until the coroner ruled otherwise. The investigation gradually uncovers a network of jewelry thieves targeting wealthy New Yorkers, and the detectives struggle to gather evidence and piece together what happened.

Filming Locations:

United States Post Office, 421 8th Avenue

In the Film

Scene where the initial stages of the investigation take place, as detectives begin their work in Midtown Manhattan. The majestic facade of the post office is visible behind them as they move through the neighborhood and gather the first clues in the murder case of Jean Dexter.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the James A. Farley Building, a monumental Beaux-Arts structure occupying two full city blocks along 8th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets. The building was completed in 1912, designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. Its facade features the famous inscription dedicated to postal workers. Since 2021, the building also houses Moynihan Train Hall, an expansion of Penn Station.

Madison Avenue and East 66th Street

In the Film

Scene where detectives visit a pharmacy at 773 Madison Avenue during the investigation. They question residents of the upscale neighborhood, trying to find connections between the victim and the wealthy elite circles that are the target of the jewelry theft ring.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in a prestigious block on Manhattan's Upper East Side, surrounded by luxury stores, galleries, and residential townhouses. This stretch of Madison Avenue is one of the most expensive shopping corridors in the world. The pharmacy at 773 Madison Avenue was used as a specific location in the film, representing the refined neighborhood where characters from wealthier echelons operate.

480 Park Avenue and East 58th Street

In the Film

Scene where Muldoon and Halloran enter a residential building on Park Avenue, above the entrance of which a canopy displays the number "478." They follow the investigation trail among wealthy residents connected to the jewelry theft ring at the center of the murder case.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at a prestigious residential building designed by renowned architect Emery Roth, located on Park Avenue in the heart of East Manhattan. The building is a classic example of pre-war luxury residential architecture. Notably, in the film the canopy shows the address "478," but the actual building is numbered 480 Park Avenue — a small discrepancy noted by location researchers and film historians.