Lana Turner is smoldering as a prototypical femme fatale in this tale of desire and murder from the pen of James M. Cain. John Garfield plays Frank Chambers, a drifter who is taken in by the owner of a roadside diner. Despite this kindness, Frank’s scruples are overwhelmed by lust for his benefactor’s scheming wife (Turner) and the two plan to do in the boss and reap the rewards.