Knock on any Door (1949)

The police are rounding up any known criminals in the vicinity in the aftermath of a holdup in which a police officer was subsequently shot dead. One of those taken in is hoodlum Nick Romano, nicknamed "Pretty Boy" because of his youthful age and good looks, who is ultimately charged despite the evidence against him being slim. He turns to lawyer Andrew Morton. While Morton has known Nick for years and has thus unofficially been his lawyer over that time, Morton, who ends up taking the case, contemplated breaking off ties with Nick in that association having a negative impact especially on his professional life, the partners at his law firm who imply that he taking the case would jeopardize his chances of making partner. Much of Morton's case will depend on the testimony of Nick's friends, Butch and Sunshine--if Morton can find them--as Nick swears he was out for drinks with them when the incident happened. But arguably for Morton, what he may want to impress on the jury, if for his own sake and that of Nick and others like him, is the role that society has played in not giving someone like Nick a fair shake in life, Morton knowing his own indirect role leading to Nick's situation.