***SPOILERS*** Feeling that the walls are closing in on him Broadway play and TV producer Barney Peters, Nehemiah Persoff, goes to extreme lengths to keep from getting knocked off by one of the many enemies he made during his lifetime. Not trusting the police, they for all he knows may be out to get him too, Peters gets himself an illegal firearm that he in fact stole out of a local gun club to gun down the person who's been sending him nasty letters threatening to murder him. Peters paranoid behavior alerts the NYPD that he's not only a danger to the community but himself as well. The guy was a low life rat and hurt a lot of people in his spectacular rise in the world of show business now someone that he stepped on is going to pay him back for what he did to him. But with so many suspects it's almost impossible for Peters and the police to find out who that person is.
It soon become apparent that Peters is not only flipping out but the reasons for that are very close to home for him. His conscience is starting to get the better of him in that what he did over the years to so many people is having him develop a deep and dangerous guilt complex. So deep that it's not only driving the man insane but on the road of self destruction. It doesn't take long for the cop assigned to his case Det. James Halloran, James Franciscus, to realize who's behind the threats directed at Peters. And most of all what's the real reason behind them.
***SPOILERS*** Stylish ending taken straight from the 1948 Orson Wells thriller "Lady from Shanghai" with a by now completely deranged Barney Peters going off the handle and shooting up a hall of mirrors after he realizes who's behind that many deaths threats against him. Wiith the reality of his both past & present actions laid bear before him Peters not only realizes why he's hated so much by everyone he ever came in contact with in the world of business but even himself as well!