Lord Peter Wimsey is an amateur detective. He is to be married to Harriet Vane, who writes crime novels, at a big Society wedding. Harriet has little charms made so that they both promise not to get involved with any more crimes as they are 'retired'. As a wedding present, Peter purchases the old Jacobean home, where Harriet grew up, called Tall-boys. After the marriage, they go to their new house to get the keys from the previous owner named Noakes. Noakes, who now has money, has no intention of paying wages or any debts that he owes. Upon arriving at the house, Lord and Lady Wimsey find no one at home and finally borrow a key to get in. They have supper and retire for their honeymoon. The next day, people are brought in to clean the house, the chimneys and the grounds and they find the body of Noakes in the cellar. Lord and Lady Wimsey try to stay out of this murder as they promised, but that may not be so easy after all.

一个英国村庄被伪装的德国伞兵占领，作为一次有计划的入侵的前哨

吉姆・布伦顿（Jim Bronton，莱斯利・班克斯饰）是一名精明却不满现状的保险火灾调查员，游走在法律边缘。为追求更大利益，他被犯罪头目斯特丁（Stedding）拉拢，加入了一个专门策划纵火骗保的团伙。布伦顿凭借专业知识，帮助团伙精准选择目标、伪造现场，屡屡得手。
随着纵火案频发、伤亡增加，他的良知备受煎熬。当团伙为掩盖罪行策划谋杀时，布伦顿决心退出并向警方自首，却遭到团伙追杀。他在女友阿登・布伦特（Arden Brent）与正直警探的帮助下，最终提供关键证据，捣毁纵火团伙，自己也付出了沉重代价。
这是鲍威尔与演员莱斯利・班克斯的首次合作，风格硬朗、节奏紧凑，被他称为 “华纳兄弟式的头条新闻式电影”。