When a beautiful hard-boiled black-mailer is murdered in her swank apartment, there are any number of men who might have done it. There's Martin Blair (Dan Duryea), the drunken husband she's dumped; there's shady nightclub owner Marko (Peter Lorre); and there's Kirk Bennett (John Phillips), who was cheating on his wife with her.

It's Bennett who was spotted at the crime scene, and it's his long-suffering wife, Catherine (June Vincent). who sets out to save him from being executed. Suspecting Marko, she teams up with Blair to perform in Marko's club and investigate. Suspense - and romance - follow this taut murder-mystery winds its way through a maze of clues to a first-rate surprise ending.

Strong performances and stylish atmosphere result in edge-on-you-seat entertainment and one of "the 25 most memorable cult films" (Andrew Sarris, Village Voice).