Naked Alibi

Naked Alibi

Year: 1954

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: Jerry Hopper

DramaThrillerRomanceCrimeCrime

After being arrested as a murder suspect, drunk Al Willis lashes out at the police, is beaten and vows revenge. The next night Lieutenant Parks is killed, and Chief Conroy brands Willis the prime suspect despite no proof. Dismissed from the force, Conroy still hunts Willis, who flees to a seedy Mexican‑border town, where their pursuit blurs the line between law and outlaw.

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Timeline & Setting – Naked Alibi (1954)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Naked Alibi (1954). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1950s

The action takes place in a mid-20th-century noir landscape, with postwar California under stiff political scrutiny and media attention. The era's police procedures, sensational reporting, and cross-border crime add tension. The time period amplifies the film's themes of reputation, authority, and personal cost.

Location

California city, Border City, Mexico

The story unfolds mainly in a mid-sized California city with a bustling urban core and a volatile political scene. The chase then moves across the border to Border City in Mexico, where the pursuit intensifies amid nightclubs and murky streets. The setting contrasts police politics with street-level danger, highlighting how place shapes the investigation.

🗺️ City crime 🗞️ Media scrutiny 🌐 Cross-border chase

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

Main Characters – Naked Alibi (1954)

Meet the key characters of Naked Alibi (1954), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Joe E. Conroy (Sterling Hayden)

A seasoned police lieutenant driven by a strict sense of justice who is willing to push boundaries to solve a brutal case. He is haunted by the consequences of his actions and the cost to his reputation. His relentless pursuit leads him from a California precinct to a cross-border chase with a personal stake in the truth.

🧭 Police 🕊️ Integrity 🕵️ Determination

Albert Willis (Gene Barry)

A mild-mannered baker whose temper erupts under pressure, making him a suspect in a violent crime spree. He is evasive, capable of brutality, and becomes a focal point of public fear and police scrutiny. His actions provoke a deadly escalation that drives the chase to the border.

💥 Aggression 🕵️ Suspicion 🔒 Secret keeps

Marianna (Gloria Grahame)

A nightclub singer whose misguided loyalty to Willis complicates the investigation. She becomes a crucial witness and a romantic hinge between Willis and Joe, ultimately paying a heavy price for her choices. Her presence highlights vulnerability amid peril.

🎭 Romance 🕯️ Vulnerability 🗣️ Witness

Matt Matthews (Don Haggerty)

A private detective and ally to Joe, providing street-smart resourcefulness and steady support. He helps track Willis across borders and pieces together the case when official channels falter. His loyalty underscores the noir theme of friendship against a corrupt system.

🔎 Private detective 🧭 Loyalty 🧱 Resourcefulness

Petey (Billy Chapin)

A boy who, along with his uncle Charlie, becomes part of the unlikely network that helps Joe. His innocence offers a counterpoint to the violence around him, and his actions become pivotal in tipping the balance of the case.

🧒 Innocence 🧩 Helpfulness 🧭 Observation

Captain Owen Kincaide (Chuck Connors)

A captain who embodies the police hierarchy’s need for control and expedient action. He pushes for results and upholds institutional authority, sometimes clashing with Joe’s more personal crusade.

👮 Authority 🗺️ Hierarchy 🧭 Pressure

Chief A. S. Babcock (Stuart Randall)

The city chief who navigates political pressure and public opinion. He represents the bureaucratic side of law enforcement and affects the course of the investigation through decisions and public statements.

🏛️ Politics 🗣️ Public image 🗝️ Influence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

Major Themes – Naked Alibi (1954)

Explore the central themes of Naked Alibi (1954), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Truth vs Perception

The narrative tests what is true against what is publicly believed. Willis’s guilt is debated in court and in the press, while Joe’s handling of evidence is scrutinized. The story shows how reputation can eclipse facts, and how a single case can redefine a life.

💔 Love and Violence

Marianna’s love for Willis is portrayed as misguided, and her loyalty puts her at risk. Willis’s volatile temper erupts in brutal acts, affecting those around him and driving the plot forward. The relationship serves as a counterpoint to Joe’s disciplined pursuit of justice.

⚖️ Justice

The pursuit tests the fairness of the system, from police brutality accusations to political pressure. The final confrontation resolves or confirms guilt and restores Joe’s name, but at personal cost. The film weighs legality, morality, and the price of truth.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

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Obsessive Pursuit Noir Movies like Naked Alibi

Where the lines between lawbreaker and lawman blur in a fatalistic hunt.If you liked the relentless, morally grey manhunt in Naked Alibi, you'll find similar tension in these gritty noir thrillers. This thread features movies where an obsessive chase blurs the line between cop and criminal, driven by high intensity and a bleak, fatalistic tone.

grittysuspensefulparanoidfatalisticdesperatetenseobsessive

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear but escalating chase, where the protagonist's dedication to catching a fugitive pushes them outside the law or to the brink of their own morality. The conflict becomes deeply personal, often culminating in a violent confrontation that leaves the hero victorious but emotionally scarred or hollow.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared core of a dogged, high-stakes pursuit, a tense and gritty atmosphere, and themes of moral compromise. They deliver a consistent experience of urgency, paranoia, and the psychological toll of obsession.

Fatalistic Crime Downfall Stories Similar to Naked Alibi

Stories spiraling towards an inevitable, bittersweet conclusion heavy with loss.Fans of Naked Alibi's heavy emotional weight and bittersweet ending will appreciate these crime stories. This thread collects movies centered on a fatalistic spiral where characters face desperate choices, leading to conclusions that are victorious yet hollowed by personal loss.

fatalisticdesperateanxiousgrittyheavybittersweettense

Narrative Summary

The plot follows a character, sometimes a criminal or a compromised lawman, on a collision course with destiny. Their actions lead them deeper into a dangerous world, with key relationships often shattered by violence. The story builds towards an explosive climax that resolves the central conflict but leaves the characters permanently scarred by the journey.

Why These Movies?

These films share a cohesive mood of desperation and fatalism, a fast-paced descent into chaos, and an emotionally heavy conclusion that prioritizes thematic impact over pure victory. They resonate through their exploration of sacrifice and the high cost of justice or survival.

Unlock the Full Story of Naked Alibi

Don't stop at just watching — explore Naked Alibi in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Naked Alibi is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Naked Alibi Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Naked Alibi, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Naked Alibi Summary

Naked Alibi Timeline

Track the full timeline of Naked Alibi with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Naked Alibi Timeline

Naked Alibi Spoiler-Free Summary

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Naked Alibi Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Naked Alibi

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