I've seen this particular film one time on either AMC or TCM several years ago.It is NOT "Murder My Sweet" or "Cry Danger", although the plot line is similar. I know the following description may not be much help, because the elements are so common in this genre... but, here goes: A guy gets mixed up with some underworld types. The crime boss owns a nightclub with an office upstairs over the bar/dance floor. The guy (I thought it was Powell, but probably someone else) is looking for some papers that he believes to be hidden in the upstairs office. He is being helped by a blonde who turns out to be on the side of the crime boss. While he is looking for the papers upstairs (in the dark if I remember right) the criminal returns to his office and catches him. The mafia-type boss has this burly henchman that does the dirty work for him and the hero gets a beating. (the thing I remember... sort of... was the guy who did the beating really got a kick out of it... the person that introduced the movie mentioned the fact that the movie was unusual for its time -late 40's /early 50's-in its portrayal of such a sadistic character)

Sorry, but this is really all I remember... it was a good movie... but I saw it that one time probably 10 years ago. I've looked at movie descriptions on imdb, but have come up empty (probably because I can't remember the actor who played the hero). It's driving me crazy, I'd like to see it again!

Johnny O'Clock, maybe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_O'Clock

Johnny O'Clock, maybe.

Johnny O'Clock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_O'Clock)

Thanks! I'll check it out.