The Turning Point [1952]

Prosecutor John Conroy has been appointed the lead of an anti-crime commission in his Midwestern hometown. Most looking in from the outside hope and expect that John and the commission will focus on breaking up the crime syndicate led by Neil Eichelberger, who hides behind a "legitimate" trucking business. Beyond his socialite, social crusading girlfriend Amanda Waycross as his assistant, John is hoping to co-opt two others onto his team for their specific perspective: his father, Matt Conroy, a veteran police officer; and childhood friend Jerry McKibbon, a newspaper reporter who frequently covers the crime beat. Beyond their professional roles, John believes his father and Jerry's knowledge of their working class neighborhood where they live/lived and where Eichelberger conducts much of his business is invaluable. Against both their initial reluctance, that reluctance for different reasons, Matt and Jerry do provide their assistance in their existing professional capacities. It does not, however, alleviate Jerry's concerns that John and Mandy are working in an ivory tower and thus will accomplish little. Beyond this open concern as the commission does indeed focus its attention on Eichelberger, who will use any measure against the commission's attempts to bring him down, he viewing any collateral damage as being acceptable, there are hidden issues among the four that may threaten the work of the commission, including that, despite their best efforts to fight it, Jerry and Mandy fall in love with each other.