Hell on Frisco Bay

Steve Rollins, Alan Ladd, a former San Francisco police officer, is released after five years in San Quentin, unjustly convicted of manslaughter in the death of a man who had been under arrest. He is greeted by his old partner Dan Bianco [William Demarest] and by his wife, Marcia Rollins [Joanne Dru], whom he shuns because she has been unfaithful.

Seeking to clear his name, Steve heads for the San Francisco waterfront to find Rogani, a fisherman who supposedly holds proof. The docks are run by racketeer Victor Amato, Edward G. Robinson, who is forcing out dock leader Lou Flaschetti. Two mob enforcers, Joe Lye Paul Stewart and Hammy Stanley Adams, confront Steve and warn him away. Rollins also learns that the man who took his place on the police force, Detective Connors [Peter Hansen], is on Amato’s payroll.

Marcia explains to Steve that she was lonely during his imprisonment and cheated on him once. He struggles to trust her, torn between accusation and longing for a chance at normal life.

Rogani and Flaschetti end up dead, thinning the line of defense around Steve. He manages to extract valuable information from Amato’s mild-mannered nephew, Mario [Perry Lopez], and when the henchman Hammy opens fire, Bianco kills him.

Lye is told by Amato to murder Mario, even though Mario is Amato’s kin. Lye discovers that Amato has, behind his back, made a pass at Kay Stanley [Fay Wray], who loves him, and Amato’s behavior—slapping her after a rejection—deepens Lye’s anger. Anna Amato [Renata Vanni], Amato’s wife, tells Steve where to find him. Amato tries to tie up loose ends by ordering Connors to kill Lye and make it look like the death was “in the line of duty,” but Lye shoots Connors instead and races toward the club headquarters to confront Amato.

With the cops closing in and others after him, Amato decides to flee the country. In a climactic showdown, Amato gains the upper hand on Lye, then attempts to flee aboard a speedboat. Steve dives in, fights Amato on deck, and as the boat slams into a lighthouse, Amato is subdued and taken into custody. Steve’s reputation is restored, and he considers returning to police work and offering Marcia a second chance.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:06