Plot
The film is set in Trinidad while it was still a British colony. Chris Emery (Rita Hayworth) works as a nightclub singer and dancer. One night after her performance she receives news from Inspector Smythe (Torin Thatcher) and Anderson (Howard Wendell), a member of the American consulate, that her husband Neil was found dead. She is comforted by Neil's friend Max Fabian (Alexander Scourby).Initially, the police conclude that Neil committed suicide based on his gunshot wound and due to a pistol at the crime scene. On further investigation they discover that Neil was in fact murdered. Inspector Smythe and Anderson take Chris into confidence and inform her that Neil's boat was seen outside Fabian's property at the time of his murder. Chris learns that Fabian is in fact a crook who has built his fortune by trading information and aiding in treason and that Neil could have been murdered due to his involvement in Fabian's latest project. Chris agrees to exploit Fabian's love for her to gather information for the police.
Meanwhile Neil's brother Steve Emery (Glenn Ford) arrives in Trinidad at the request of his brother who had written to him about a prospective job. He is shocked to learn that his brother committed suicide shortly after writing to him and sets out to investigate matters on his own. After the inquest Chris and Steve spend some time together. Though she starts falling in love with Steve, Chris is unable to reveal to him her motive behind getting friendly with Fabian.
As Chris inches closer to discovering the truth about Fabian, Steve gathers proof of Fabian's involvement in Neil's death. This leads to a showdown in the climax.
Cast
- Rita Hayworth as Chris Emery
- Glenn Ford as Steve Emery
- Alexander Scourby as Max Fabian
- Valerie Bettis as Veronica Huebling
- Torin Thatcher as Inspector Smythe
- Howard Wendell as Anderson
- Karel Stepanek as Walters
- George Voskovec as Doctor Franz Huebling
- Steven Geray as Wittol
- Walter Kohler as Peter Bronec
- Juanita Moore as Dominique
- Gregg Martell as Olaf, Fabian's Chauffeur
- Mort Mills as Martin, Wittol's Henchman
- Ralph Moody as Coroner
