Peter is a refugee who wants to make a better life for himself in America, but he doesn't have the proper papers. Desperate for entry, he jumps ship and flees to New York to search for a Wor... Read allPeter is a refugee who wants to make a better life for himself in America, but he doesn't have the proper papers. Desperate for entry, he jumps ship and flees to New York to search for a World War II veteran whom he helped during the war.Peter is a refugee who wants to make a better life for himself in America, but he doesn't have the proper papers. Desperate for entry, he jumps ship and flees to New York to search for a World War II veteran whom he helped during the war.
- Awards
- 1 win
- Freddie
- (as Joseph Turkel)
- Monroe
- (as Ned Booth)
- Shorty Rogers and His Band
- (as Shorty Rogers and His Band)
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Pedestrian
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlong with Jack Teagarden (trombone) in the nightclub sequence, the band's Jimmy Giuffre (saxophone) on the far left and Shelly Manne (drums) can be seen. Shorty Rogers (trumpet) is leading the band. He and Bob Keene (clarinet) supply off camera solos for the actors.
- GoofsThe lights above the elevator on the ground floor of the United Nations building indicate that the elevator travels 36 floors in a few (i.e., 3-5) seconds. That kind of acceleration, speed, and braking would injure occupants of the elevator, especially the elderly operator. That distance in that period of time would exceed 60 mph.
- Quotes
Peter: Tell me. Is there not work for everyone here in America?
Maggie: Almost everyone.
Peter: So, how it happens that a girl like you steals a coat?
Maggie: I don't know. I was cold. I needed a coat.
Maggie: [thinking about what she just said] More than that, I was fed up, I guess.
Maggie: [standing up] Did you ever put tips on shoe laces?
Peter: Tip on shoelaces?
Maggie: Yeah. That's what I did for two years.
Maggie: [gesturing about her work] There's a big steal machine here, see, and over here, a giant spool of shoelace. You pull it out like this, twenty-seven inches at a time, all day. And then you stamp a pedal and a ton of steel bangs down, cuts the lace and rolls the tip on. Bang like that, and again. Bang, all day. You're scared you'll smash your finger. At the same time, you gotta keep your eye on the assistant foreman. Because every time he comes by he pinches you. You do this until your brain goes numb, and you get thirty-five bucks a week. And then, all of a sudden, you have an appendix attack, an operation, and you're out flat on your back. And you just can't get back on you're feet. And you get fed up. And you want to strike back at somebody, anybody!
Maggie: [after she heaves a sigh] And you steal a coat.
- ConnectionsReferences Arch of Triumph (1948)
The director, Maxwell Shane, presents a story that might have been dramatic at the time, but in the global village, where illegal aliens are all over the city and the country, this movie shows a dated take on things since everything is different now. This is the era that Arthur Miller presented in "A View from the Bridge" about the illegal immigrants. America wasn't a tolerant nation at the time!
Vittorio Glassman, one of Italy's best actors, plays the stowaway that comes to America only to be refused entrance. No one can believe his story of survival in the European concentration camps. When he escapes into the streets of Manhattan we get the feel of what the town was like. Mr. Glassman whose body of work in the Italian cinema was unique, shows an interesting portrait as the man who is not wanted in America.
Gloria Grahame, as the girl out of luck in the naked city, plays the woman who befriends Kaban and believes him. Jerry Paris is Tom, the former G.I. who was helped by Kaban in Europe. Robin Raymond is Tanya the stripper with a heart of gold who takes Kaban home out the kindness of her heart.
The scenes at the United Nations are magnificently staged. The chase to a recently inaugurated building is one of the best things of the movie. Finally, everything that went wrong is put to order and Kaban is redeemed as a hero and a man who has told the truth from the beginning.
- jotix100
- Oct 19, 2004
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Die gläserne Mauer
- Filming locations
- 760 United Nations Plaza, 47th Street and 1st Avenue, New York City, New York, USA(Exterior/Interior - United Nations Building, still partially under construction.)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 22 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1