Don Siegel - The Big Steal [1949]

Duke Halliday and Joan Graham are on the same boat traveling to Vera Cruz, Mexico, unaware that after their antagonistic initial meeting on the Vera Cruz dock that they are in Mexico to track down the same person: Jim Fiske. Joan's fiance Jim absconded with $2,000 of her money, although he always said it was a loan despite seemingly trying to ditch her at every turn. Duke is a lieutenant and payroll officer with the US Army. Jim robbed Duke of the latest payroll to the tune of $300,000. On the road in Mexico, Jim is able to get a head start on Duke and Joan, who form an unlikely and uneasy alliance to get their money back. Although they have a good idea that Jim is heading to Tehuacan, they have no idea where the $300,000 is, what he intends to do with it once there, or if they have to fight others who may also want that money from him. Meanwhile, Captain Vincent Blake is Duke's commanding officer, who didn't believe Duke's story of being robbed. As such, Vince is tracking Duke and will shoot to kill him if need be. And although they played dumb in their initial questioning when Duke, Joan, and Vince arrived in Vera Cruz, the Vera Cruz police, led by Inspector General Ortega, are on all their tails trying to find out what is going on with this group and Jim's ultimate contact.