Based on a Dashiell Hammett story, Nick Charles solves two
murders while his wife avoids jealousy and helps raise their child.
Col. MacFay (C. Aubrey Smith) invites Nora Charles (Myrna Loy)
and Nick Charles (William Powell) for the weekend. Nick sees a
body on the road, but it disappears. McFay says that Phil Church
(Sheldon Leonard) is dreaming of his death. McFay's dog is killed.
Dudley Horn (Patric Knowles) is engaged to Lois McFay (Virginia
Grey) and tells Nick of McFay's shady deal. McFay's secretary
Freddie (Tom Neal) argues with McFay and likes Lois. Nick finds
a cop watching Church's house. Church tells Nick his family may
be killed too, and Nick socks him. Dum-Dum (Abner Biberman) throws
a knife, and Smitty (Muriel Hutchison) pulls a gun. Diamond Back
Vogel (Don Costello) gives Smitty a message from her husband in
prison. Church kisses Smitty. Lois comes to talk with Nick and
Nora at night, and a shot is heard. McFay is found murdered by
a knife. Police look for Church and Dum-Dum. Freddie and Nora
are questioned. Assistant District Attorney Van Slack (Otto Kruger)
questions Nick. The dog Asta finds the knife. Lois runs to Nick
and is shot at by Dudley, who is killed. Van Slack asks Lois about
Dudley, who was rejected by her father and was Church's enemy.
Lois hears housekeeper Mrs. Bellam (Phyllis Gordon) say she is
her mother. Nick gets a threatening call and goes with Van Slack
without Nora to see Smitty. Lt. Guild (Nat Pendleton) says that
Smitty was there but suspects she set up the alibi. Vogel arrives,
and Nick says he saw him watching Church's house. Lt. Guild and
Van Slack run after Dum-Dum. Nick goes to a West Indies nightclub
and finds Nora surrounded by men trying to locate Dum-Dum, who
comes in and asks Nick where Church is. A man tells Nick about
Church until Dum-Dum hits him.
Nick looks for Church's previous girl-friend in the apartments
managed by Mrs. Dolley (Marjorie Main). While Nora asks for a
room, Nick finds a bullet hole and water. Two men with guns come
in the window but are arrested by Lt. Guild and his men. Ex-cons
give a birthday party for the Charles' child. Church warns Nora
to get Nick out of town; but Church is shot dead. Nick tells Vogel
to wait. Lt. Guild holds Dum-Dum and Smitty, who accuses Vogel.
Nick tells Van Slack that Church planned to be acquitted with
an alibi so he couldn't be tried again. Vogel says Church was
in his gambling place with bankers not wanting to testify. Nanny
Dorothy (Ruth Hussey) is brought in and admits she was in prison.
Nick proves that the shot was delayed with a water device and
accuses Lois of killing her father to get his money sooner and
of killing Church too. Lois tries to use their baby to escape;
but the child is found, and Lt. Guild arrests Lois.
The wit and sophistication of Nora and Nick Charles add
charm to this complicated mystery.