An ex-boxer struggles to get his life back on track in this gritty, hardboiled drama that's fast-moving, realistic and sometimes brutal. His efforts are constantly frustrated, however, by the hand that fate deals him and then things get even worse when his bitterness and self-pity make him bad-tempered and dangerously violent. This movie opens strongly with a well-filmed boxing match and closes impressively with a memorable climax. In between, its no-nonsense style, sharp dialogue and shadowy locations are perfect for this type of material and contribute enormously to its edgy atmosphere.Ernie Driscoll (John Payne) is the ex-pug who was leading on points and desperately close to winning the world heavyweight title when an eye injury brought an end to his challenge and his career. A few years later, he works as a cab driver and saves what he can to buy his own gas station but his acquisitive wife Pauline (Peggie Castle) sneers at his aspirations. She works in a flower shop and is having an affair with a thief called Victor Rawlins (Brad Dexter) who, after stealing some diamonds, takes her with him to a pet shop owned by his fence Christopher (Jay Adler). Unfortunately, Christopher doesn't believe in doing business where women are involved and so refuses to pay Victor the $50,000 he was expecting and thwarts the couple's plan to use the money to go and live in style in Paris.Ernie regularly frequents a drugstore where he has coffee with his long-time friend, Stan Hogan (Frank Faylen) who's a dispatcher at the cab company and also sees Linda James (Evelyn Keyes) who's an ambitious young actress. One day, when Linda tells him she's in trouble because she'd accidentally killed a theatre producer who was being too forceful in making advances to her, he agrees to help. Linda takes him to the theatre where he sees the body lying on the stage and Linda goes on to explain precisely what happened. Ernie offers to help her to dispose of the body, but at that point, the house lights come on and it becomes obvious that the whole incident is a hoax. Ernie becomes furious and after punching a few guys to the ground, leaves the premises.A little while later, an apologetic Linda tells Ernie that the stunt at the theatre was set up as her audition for a part in an upcoming play and that the police are looking for him because the theatre people had reported the assaults hoping that the resultant publicity would translate into higher ticket sales. Ernie's troubled by this but matters get much worse when he and Linda discover Pauline's dead body in the back of his cab and the couple have to set off on a search to find the real culprit before Ernie gets apprehended for the crime.One of the main strengths of this movie is the convincing way in which the fight sequences are executed as effective camera angles and realistic sounds add greatly to the power of these brutal encounters. John Payne is also very believable as a tough guy who, after suffering the huge disappointments involved with the way his boxing career ended, was betrayed by his wife, provoked into a series of assault charges and then framed for his wife's murder. These attributes plus the movie's excellent supporting cast and a script that's overflowing with quotable lines are just some of the reasons why "99 River Street" is an above average crime drama that's extremely enjoyable to watch.

One of Only a Fistfull of Pure Film-Noir from the 1950's. It is a Hard-Hitting, Exceptionally Photographed, and Well-Acted, for the most part, Entry in the Genre that has more than One Riveting, Unforgettable Scenes.This is the Story of an Ex-Boxer, not so Humbly accepting his Fall and Lot in Life as a Cab Driver, that gets Hit with a Cheating Wife, Framed for Murder, and Encounters some Low-Life Brutes. His Prowess as an Ex-Pug (as His Condescending Wife calls Him) comes in Handy.There is some Stunning Noir Lighting and Angles but it is the Brutality and some Sexuality that Highlight this Solid and Highly Entertaining Movie. There is some Overacting by Evelyn Keyes, but John Payne, Brad Dexter, and some Sharp Support from Secondary Characters Ring the Bell.Somewhat Overlooked and Overshadowed by Director Phil Karlson's Kansas City Confidential (1952). But this is a much more Satisfying Noir and Overall a Better Example of a Tough and Tense Style that is more than Recommended, it is Essential Viewing.

This film has the familiar noir story of a framed man who needs to clear his name, but since the framed man in question is an ex-boxer you get the bonus of a few bloody fist fights peppered through the story. When the lead says the line, "I'm only barred in New York, there are still 47 other states where I can fight!" it took me a few seconds to realize his math wasn't off as a result of getting hit in the head a few too many times. There are lots of other great lines in this one and Frank Faylen who plays Ernie the friendly taxi driver in 'It's a Wonderful Life" apparently couldn't shake the typecasting as he plays Stan the friendly taxi dispatcher in this raw noir.

This action, crime drama finds John Payne playing Ernie Driscoll, a former hard luck boxer turned cab driver. Ernie's wife Pauline(Peggie Castle)is disappointed in her four year marriage and begins a relationship with a jewel thief, Vic Rawlins(Brad Dexter). Pauline is planning to run away with Vic; but a botched heist changes plans. The pretty feed-up wife ends up killed and you know who gets the blame; right, her hot tempered husband Ernie. The former boxer ends up with the help of a friend, a struggling stage actress played by Evelyn Keyes. The two are racing the clock trying to find Vic in order to clear Ernie's name. Phil Karlson directs and the story line is interesting in spite of the brief boxing scenes that lack realism. Frank Faylen plays the dispatcher for the cab company that Ernie works for; and turns in a fine performance. Other players include: Jay Adler, Jack Lambert, Ian Wolf and Glenn Langan.