Produced by Paramount's Pine-Thomas unit, Manhandled is a no-nonsense film noir with a well-chosen cast. Small-time hoodlum Karl Benson (
Dan Duryea) uses and abuses several innocent people in his efforts to get ahead. Among Benson's victims is Merl Kramer (
Dorothy Lamour), who doesn't find out about her boyfriend's perfidy until it's almost too late.
Sterling Hayden co-stars as insurance investigator Joe Cooper, who likewise exploits poor Merl, albeit for a good cause: Cooper is on the trail of some missing jewels. A subplot involves a married couple (
Irene Hervey and
Alan Napier) and the wife's would-be lover (
Phillip Reed). Manhandled's level of tension never lets up, not even in its final scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide