Roger Lewis (Raymond Burr), publisher of a vicious scandal sheet, is in the habit of tricking wealthy, gullible women into investing in his ventures. His latest conquest is a shapely ex-showgirl, Doris King (Hillary Brooke), the wife of Harry Jackson (Paul Harvey), once a top-flight producer. Jackson has lost all his money, but Doris still has her (slightly-tarnished) jewels, and she wants to divorce her husband and marry Lewis, who has no intentions of marrying her once he gets his hands on her (money) jewels.
Jackson, concerned about Doris' happiness and wanting to prevent her from ruining her life, takes the jewels. Then he becomes involved in a fight with Lewis, who takes his revenge (for not being able to get his hands on Doris' money-jewels) by killing Doris and pinning suspicion on Jackson.
Jackson goes into hiding and falls prey to a small-time crook, "Biggie" Wolfe (Norman Budd), who is secretly in the pay of Lewis. Wolfe wants to sell the jewelry and keep the proceeds for himself, telling Jackson the money will serve to get him the services of a good lawyer, but Lewis wants Jackson found with the jewels on him, and he orders "Biggie" to return them.
MEABWHILE, Jackson's daughter, Linda (Barbra Fuller), instigates a police search for her father and Detective Lt. Jim Webster (Robert Rockwell)and his assistant Newcombe (Charles Quigley)bring so much pressure on Jackson that he ups and commits suicide...which is not exactly what Linda had in mind when she asked the police to help.
This lets "Biggie" off the hook reference returning the jewels and he looks up gangster Johnny Rocco (John Eldredge), who does business at the place of an old Long Island sea-dog, "Pop" Swenson (Emory Parnell), and Rocco offers to buy the jewels IF "Biggie" will arrange a border-crossing for his brother Mort, who is set to break out of the state penitentiary. So far, "Biggie" has done a lot of work, has some more to do, has had some out-of-pocket expenses...and still hasn't seen a dime in return for handling Doris' money-jewels. But Lewis wrings (as only Raymond Burr could wring) this information out of "Biggie" and takes it to District Attorney George Richards (Russell Hicks), who warns the prison officials and Mort is killed in the attempted jail break. Rocco learns the source of the leak, is somewhat miffed at "Big-Mouth Biggie" , takes him for a ride, comes back alone and hatches a plot to get Lewis.
This plot involves using Linda as bait, and this is good as it gives the two top-billed players ( Fuller and Rockwell) a chance to get a little bit more screen time as, they haven't had a lot of screen-time in the previous 50 minutes.
Jackson, concerned about Doris' happiness and wanting to prevent her from ruining her life, takes the jewels. Then he becomes involved in a fight with Lewis, who takes his revenge (for not being able to get his hands on Doris' money-jewels) by killing Doris and pinning suspicion on Jackson.
Jackson goes into hiding and falls prey to a small-time crook, "Biggie" Wolfe (Norman Budd), who is secretly in the pay of Lewis. Wolfe wants to sell the jewelry and keep the proceeds for himself, telling Jackson the money will serve to get him the services of a good lawyer, but Lewis wants Jackson found with the jewels on him, and he orders "Biggie" to return them.
MEABWHILE, Jackson's daughter, Linda (Barbra Fuller), instigates a police search for her father and Detective Lt. Jim Webster (Robert Rockwell)and his assistant Newcombe (Charles Quigley)bring so much pressure on Jackson that he ups and commits suicide...which is not exactly what Linda had in mind when she asked the police to help.
This lets "Biggie" off the hook reference returning the jewels and he looks up gangster Johnny Rocco (John Eldredge), who does business at the place of an old Long Island sea-dog, "Pop" Swenson (Emory Parnell), and Rocco offers to buy the jewels IF "Biggie" will arrange a border-crossing for his brother Mort, who is set to break out of the state penitentiary. So far, "Biggie" has done a lot of work, has some more to do, has had some out-of-pocket expenses...and still hasn't seen a dime in return for handling Doris' money-jewels. But Lewis wrings (as only Raymond Burr could wring) this information out of "Biggie" and takes it to District Attorney George Richards (Russell Hicks), who warns the prison officials and Mort is killed in the attempted jail break. Rocco learns the source of the leak, is somewhat miffed at "Big-Mouth Biggie" , takes him for a ride, comes back alone and hatches a plot to get Lewis.
This plot involves using Linda as bait, and this is good as it gives the two top-billed players ( Fuller and Rockwell) a chance to get a little bit more screen time as, they haven't had a lot of screen-time in the previous 50 minutes.