The 1953 film "The Glass Wall" is about an European man who arrives in New York City as an illegal immigrant. During World War II he saved the life of an American soldier, and if he can find the soldier he will be allowed to stay in the United States. All he knows is the soldier's name was Tom and that he was a clarinet player for a musical group located near Times Square in the city. At one time he passes the famous Leon and Eddie's Nightclub which issued a "Good Luck" token then. He meets a New York woman, Maggie, who helps him out with a little larceny of coins from newspaper boys. In one scene, laying on the ground next to Maggie's foot are two coins about the size of US dimes. One coin has a head of King George V on it and is New Zealand sixpence coin.

Many "displaced persons" are legally arriving in New York City and are met by "welcome" signs.

A passenger ship is headed to New York City and the city's famous skyline appears.

Peter Kuban, a Hungarian survivor of World War II, arrives and is met by US immigration officials. He is desperate to enter the United States as he is wanted by the authorities back home.

Peter tells the men that he believes that he can legally enter the United States as there is a law that states that someone who helped American servicemen can enter. However, Peter does not have many details about the man he saved, except that his name was Tom, he was a musician who played the clarinet for a jazz band, and that he lives near Times Square. The immigration officials reject his plea due to the lack of verification of his story and order that he be sent back to Europe.

Peter's story gets into the newspapers as a human interest story. He escapes from the ship and makes his way to Times Square with eight dollars brought from Europe.

Times Square was and is one of the centers of New York City night life. The movie theatre is showing the film "Tomorrow Is Too Late" with Pier Angeli.

Peter pauses to look around. The movie theatre is showing the film "Bugles in the Afternoon" with Ray Milland and Helena Carter.

Meanwhile the immigration officials and police start looking for him.

The head official, Inspector Bailey, believe Peter's story and wants to help him. Peter enters a night club district thinking that his soldier Tom might be there. He passes the famous Leon and Eddie's Nightclub.

Leon and Eddie's Nightclub issued "good luck coin" tokens for many years.

Brass, 32 mm, 11.18 gm
Obverse:
Leon and Eddie thumbing noses at each other
LEON ℇ EDDIE'S
33 W 52 N.Y.C.
"ALWAYS THE HOTTEST SHOW IN TOWN!"
EUE (Francis or Franz Eue, a designer for the Medallic Art Company)
Reverse:
Torch
CARRYING THE TORCH FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE
LEON ℇ EDDIE'S

Peter wanders into a coffee shop where Maggie Summers is getting some coffee.

Maggie is unemployed and is broke. She steals a coat, is spotted by the owner, and flees the restaurant. Peter wants no trouble from the police and he follows her out to a park.

Maggie takes Peter to her apartment and he tells her his story. The landlady hears the noise and comes up to collect the rent.

She is carrying a movie fan magazine with a picture of Gloria Grahame on the cover. Gloria Grahame is the actress playing Maggie in the film. Peter gives Maggie his eight dollars to satisfy the landlady and then leaves the apartment.

Tom, the musician, is playing for a club, and his girlfriend Nancy arrives with an appointment for an audition with a better-known band. Tom picks up a newspaper, shows it to Nancy, and tells her that he recognizes the man on the cover.

Tom wants to help Peter but Nancy insists that he go to the audition. Maggie is walking along a street where two newspaper sales boys are performing. Someone throws two coins on the sidewalk for the boys and Maggie covers them with her foot.

The boys confront her but she refuses to move, the boys then leave and Maggie moves her foot.

The coins appear to be about the size of United States dimes (17.9 mm). One coin has a head of King George V on it that was used only by New Zealand and Southern Rhodesia. The New Zealand sixpence diameter of 19.3 mm is the closest coin in size to the US dime at 17.9 mm. The other coin appears to be the reverse of a New Zealand sixpence.

A New Zealand sixpence coin:

Silver, 19.3 mm, 2.80 gm

Tom walks out on the audition and heads to the immigration office and meets Maggie there.

Tom tells his story to the immigration officials who now decide that Peter is to be allowed to stay. However, they have to find him. Peter, not knowing that he is now "legal", wanders New York City.

Peter spots the reflection of a building in water.

He recognizes the building as the United Nations headquarters. He spots a police car and runs into the building and up the stairs into a meeting room.

He then heads for the roof, despondent, and prepares to jump.

The immigration officials, Maggie, and Tom, arrive and Peter is saved.

Vittorio Gassman as Peter Kuban
Gloria Grahame as Maggie Summers
Ann Robinson as Nancy
Douglas Spencer as Inspector Bailey
Jerry Paris as Tom (clarinet player)
Director: Maxwell Shane
Writers: Maxwell Shane, Ivan Tors