The Big Knife

The Big Knife is a 1955 film noir directed and produced by Robert Aldrich from a screenplay by James Poe based on the 1949 play by Clifford Odets. The film stars Jack Palance, Ida Lupino, Wendell Corey, Jean Hagen, Rod Steiger, Shelley Winters, Ilka Chase, and Everett Sloane.

On his wifes advice, Castle is adamantly refusing to renew his contract, which enrages Stanley Shriner Hoff, his powerful studio boss. Castle wants to be free from the studios grip on his life and career.Hoff and his righthand man Smiley Coy have knowledge of a hitandrun accident in which Castle was involved and threaten to use this information against him. Hoff is willing to do anything to make the actor sign a sevenyear renewal. ........

Source: Wikipedia