Definitely a classic
I never thought of Kansas City as being a brutal city, but this film sure gives that imression. Coleen Gray is great in this as she was in Kiss Of Death and Nightmare Alley. And Lee Van Cleef was the usual classic villain. John Payne was no great actor, but he does well as the out of luck ex GI who finds himself framed for a robbery, and then folows the clues to prove his innocence. Definitely a great one.
I killed him for money and for a woman. I didn't get the money... and I didn't get the woman.