The Set-Up: Robert Wise presents a solid, tight little film noir; the story is wonderfully self-contained and the stakes are clear, but the film succeeds in displaying a very rich set of characters in that situation and portraying vividly and colorfully the seedy environment where they all live. The storytelling is very visual; in that regard, Milton Krasner’s cinematography (great camera movements, very well-lit) and Roland Gross’s editing (the fight is very well-edited, enriched by the cutaways to the public) are essential pieces of this work. Acting is generally good: Audrey Totter is merely adequate, but Robert Ryan is very convincing in his role.