| Director | Jack Smight |
|---|---|
| Genre | crime film, film based on a novel, mystery film |
| Runtime | 121 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $3.5 million |
| Box office | $12 million |
Private investigator Lew Harper is retained by an old pal, attorney Albert Graves, to search for Graves' employer, multi-millionaire Ralph Sampson. He has disappeared after flying into Los Angeles, and Sampson's physically disabled wife Elaine wants to ensure her estranged husband is not squandering the fortune she hopes to inherit. Harper interviews Allan Taggert, Sampson's private pilot, and his flirtatious daughter Miranda, object of Albert's desire. An old photo of a glamorous starlet in Sampson's bungalow leads Harper to Fay Estabrook, now an aging alcoholic. Harper gets her drunk to see if she is connected to Sampson's disappearance. When she passes out, he encounters the armed Dwight Troy, Fay's husband, who falls for Harper's cover story that he is a fan of the former star.
Having intercepted a call at Fay's, Harper tracks down Betty Fraley, a lounge singer, at her club. When he asks about the missing Sampson, she recognizes his voice and has the bouncer, Puddler, take him out to beat him in a back alley, but Taggert arrives and knocks Puddler unconscious. Taggert joins Harper as they head back to Troy's house to check on the truck Betty warned Fay to head off on the phone. Harper leaves Taggert standing watch outside; though the truck gets away when Taggert shoots at it and misses, it leaves distinctive tire marks in the dust.
Elaine receives a message from Sampson asking her to cash in $500,000 in bonds, and Harper deduces that he has been kidnapped. Driving to a remote mountaintop property that Sampson previously had given to Claude, a bogus holy man, for his cult's temple, Harper evades attempts to distract him and finds the familiar tire prints.
Back at the Sampson estate, Harper finds a ransom note with instructions to drop the cash that night outside town. Harper sends Taggert and Graves to make the drop while he keeps watch. During it, the man picking up the money is shot dead, and the cash is taken by someone in a white convertible. A clue leads Harper to a seedy bar where Harper learns the dead man was Eddie, a regular customer. Outside, Harper spots Puddler driving the same truck, which he follows back to Claude's temple. There, he uncovers an illegal immigrant smuggling operation run by Troy. Harper is caught and questioned by Troy, who knows nothing of the kidnapping or Eddie's part in it, but realizes the white convertible belongs to Betty.
Puddler takes Harper to a dockside warehouse, where he falls to his death failing to prevent Harper's escape. Harper suspects it was Taggert, Betty, and her brother Eddie who kidnapped Sampson. When questioned, Taggert pulls a gun on Harper but is shot by the arriving Graves. Harper then finds junkie Betty at her cottage being tortured by Troy, Claude, and Fay. As Betty reveals where the money is, Harper bursts in, shoots Troy, and subdues the others before fleeing with Betty. When Harper informs her that Taggert, her secret lover, is dead, she breaks down and reveals that Sampson is being held in an abandoned oil tanker. Harper calls Graves to meet them there, but as Harper searches the ship, he is knocked unconscious from behind. Some time later Harper comes to, and the pair discover Sampson's murdered body. Meanwhile, Betty drives off in Harper's car, is pursued by Harper and Graves, and dies when she loses control on a winding road.
The two men retrieve the money and Graves drives Harper to the Sampson home. On the way, Harper tells Graves he knows that he killed Sampson. Graves admits he did because of his hatred for him and knowing that Sampson would oppose any relationship with Miranda. Harper warns Graves that he has to turn him in to the police and that Graves will have to shoot him to stop him. However, when Harper gets out and walks toward the door, he drops the bundle containing the half million dollars in cash to the ground. Graves cannot bring himself to pull the trigger, and Harper raises his arms in resignation.