George Raft

Disagree. Raft stunk up the film, not helped by a hammy script. It's a real stinker compared, for example, with "Manpower" also directed by Raoul Walsh for WB two years earlier, in which he managed to draw a good performance from Raft, no actor as he himself admitted. No, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre can't save this one. Brenda Marshall (Mrs William Holden at the time) was no Marlene Dietrich and the great Edward G Robinson and fine ensemble interplay also helped "Manpower" immeasurably. Assuming "Background to Danger" had a lower budget and tighter shooting schedule, I'm guessing Walsh couldn't spare the time on Raft for this one.