Attorney Steve Keiver (Barry Sullivan) goes to his boss for a raise so he can afford to marry his girlfriend and learns that the insurance company he works for is struggling and all raises have been put on hold for now. But he also learns that his boss would pay ten thousand dollars no questions asked to get 50K in stolen furs back due to the payment he has to make on the insurance policy for them the next day. Keiver is the enterprising sort and lets the underworld figures know of the deal he can make. So the insurance company coughs up the cash with an additional finder's fee to Keiver of 2500 dollars and retrieves the furs. When Keiver discovers that his girlfriend Ellen (Arlene Dahl) has married somebody else he decides to go into business being a go between for thieves and insurance companies and makes a very nice living.
So this is more interesting than the law abiding guy who suddenly gets pulled into criminal activity, because Keiver is not breaking any laws and everybody knows what he is doing. But he is also making theft worse in town because the thieves know that which they cannot fence they can sell back to the insurance company through Keiver.
There are complicating factors. Keiver's girl comes back into town with her new rich husband. Keiver is dating another girl who loves him though the feeling is not mutual. Throw in a cop (George Murphy) who doesn't like Keiver's business model, a gangster who is obsessed with holding the record for holding his breath underwater, and a couple of female impersonators who are stick up men, and you have a dandy tale.
The only thing that doesn't make sense is the ending, probably required because of the production code, but it doesn't negate the unexpected and well played portion of the film that comes before.
So this is more interesting than the law abiding guy who suddenly gets pulled into criminal activity, because Keiver is not breaking any laws and everybody knows what he is doing. But he is also making theft worse in town because the thieves know that which they cannot fence they can sell back to the insurance company through Keiver.
There are complicating factors. Keiver's girl comes back into town with her new rich husband. Keiver is dating another girl who loves him though the feeling is not mutual. Throw in a cop (George Murphy) who doesn't like Keiver's business model, a gangster who is obsessed with holding the record for holding his breath underwater, and a couple of female impersonators who are stick up men, and you have a dandy tale.
The only thing that doesn't make sense is the ending, probably required because of the production code, but it doesn't negate the unexpected and well played portion of the film that comes before.