Dennis O'Keefe plays Joe Sullivan who is serving time for a robbery, having taken the rap for sadistic pyromaniacal gang boss Rick Coyle (Raymond Burr) who owes his if he gets out and lives to collect, Joe escapes Coyle's fatal trap and with the help of his moll/partner Pat (Oscar winning Claire Trevor "Key Largo") goes gunning for Coyle and his henchman. Along the way Pat and Joe kidnap Joe's moralistic social worker Ann (Marsha Hunt) who has been trying to reform Joe, the film involves the complex emotional to the inevitable encounter with Coyle. Joe has to answer the question is he a tough heartless criminal or is there a heart of gold under that gritty exterior.

Raw Deal is unheralded masterpiece because it is not only killer 'noir' but much much more...a classic in a class of it's own.