Welles, who had been an original inspiration of film noir, skillfully incorporated the noir element into this thriller of deceit and murder. Welles plays a well-respected small town professor who was actually a Nazi fugitive. The investigation by the FBI agent played by Edward G. Robinson's has brought about murderous consequences. The film was nominated for an Oscar in Best Original Screenplay and a Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival; it was also Welles' biggest box-office success.