This,thesecondadaptationofRaymondChandlersnovel,ismuchclosertothesourcetextthantheoriginal-Murder,MySweet(1944),whichtendedtoavoidsomeofthesleazierpartsoftheplot-butstillconcernsprivateeyePhilipMarlowesattemptstolocateVelma,aformerdancerataseedynightclubandthegirlfriendofMooseMalloy,apettycriminaljustoutofprison.Marlowefindsthatoncehehastakenthecase,eventsconspiretoputhimindangeroussituations,andheisforcedtofollowaconfusingtrailofuntruthsanddouble-crossesbeforeheisabletolocateVelma.