When I watched this film I was like that's a great film for the late 1950's.
What I was astonished by is the beginning scene. How did they do this!
The script is stereotypical of these film noir of the 1950s. With the beautiful icy blond girl, the good looking middle age man and the evil man.
I think if you want to understand cinema you have to watch what has been done before you so just watch it.