The Big Shot

Duke Berne (Humphrey Bogart) lies dying in a prison hospital and recounts the story of how he ended up there. As a three-time loser, Duke is determined to go straight to avoid a life a prison, but is unable to find a job. A pair of crooks try to recruit him into another robbery, but Duke declines until he finds out that lawyer Martin T. Fleming (Stanley Ridges), the brains behind the robbery, is married to Duke's former flame Lorna (Irene Manning). Lorna begs Duke to back out of the robbery with the promise that she will return to him. Duke agrees, but when the robbery fails, the police still suspect Duke and a witness falsely identifies him. Duke convinces Fleming to give him an alibi by threatening him with exposure. But when the survivor of the failed robbery tells Fleming that Lorna has been with Duke, Fleming sets up Duke to take the fall. Fleming arranges for George Anderson (Richard Travis) to falsely testify that Duke was with him during the robbery. Fleming also arranges for George's fiancee, Ruth (Susan Peters), who doesn't know about George's testimony, to testify that George was with her, which results in both Duke and George being sent to prison. After hearing that Lorna has left Fleming, Duke breaks out of prison with Lorna's help, but a guard is killed and George is charged with the murder. Duke knows he has to clear George's name but he is still determined to get revenge on Fleming as well.