Sea Tiger

In the waters off the coast of Mexico, shipping line owner Jim Klavier brings Capt. Benjamin McGrun aboard the Sea Tiger , a ship that was recently located after its capture and abandonment by the Japanese during World War II. Ben, who was acquitted years earlier of the charge of smuggling Japanese officers to safety during the war, is still mistrusted, and thanks his friend Jim for giving him his first chance to work again. Just as Jim begins to tell Ben about something that may be hidden on the ship, first mate Jon Edmun shoots Jim from the upper deck, killing him. Although Ben chases him, Edmun knocks him out and escapes unseen. Ben returns to Kotir, where Jim's partner, Jenine Duvall, works. He tells her and J. N. Hennick, the district officer, that Jim dropped him at the ship and then sailed on to take care of other business. Jenine then introduces Ben to Edmun, and after he leaves, Ben tries to kiss her. She pulls away, however, informing him that after standing by him throughout his trial and then being spurned by him, she no longer loves him. His explanation that he felt ashamed by people's continuing suspicions does not move her, and when he reveals that Jim was killed, she wonders aloud if Ben is capable of murder. He counters that she has the most to gain by Jim's death, and retreats to Harry's Bar. There, the bartender, Quick Boy, throws a knife near Ben's head and reveals that he knows that Ben boarded the Sea Tiger with Jim but left alone. Ben strong-arms Quick Boy, frightening him into silence. Outside the bar, Hennick calls Ben in to meet Williams, an American insurance agent, who explains that a fortune in jewels is hidden somewhere on the ship. When Williams returns to his hotel room, Quick Boy climbs through the window and, knife in hand, offers to show Williams the jewels in return for a share of the profits. Meanwhile, at Jenine's office, Edmun insists on boarding the Sea Tiger to prepare it, forcing Ben to demand that he stay away. After he leaves, Ben finds in Jenine's files a letter from Williams about the jewels. After she tells him she did not trust him enough to show him the letter, Ben quits, declaring that he will stay just long enough to find and turn in the jewels to clear himself of murder. That night, Harry inadvertently informs Edmun that he can locate hidden segments of the Sea Tiger by comparing the ship's original blueprints with its remodeling map. Edmun races to Jenine's safe to find the map, but when she enters the office, he jumps out the window. She grabs the map and searches the town for Ben, followed closely by Edmun. Jenine locates Ben on the beach and apologizes for doubting him. Soon after, Williams finds them and reveals that someone tried to steal his map of the ship. They compare the two maps and decide to sneak off to the Sea Tiger . Edmun, however, hears their plans and rushes to urge Hennick to try to locate Jim. The officer cannot and so names the ship off-limits until Jim's return, but just then, he hears Ben, Jenine and Williams take off in a launch. Quick Boy jumps onto the boat, but after Ben tosses him overboard, he swims to shore and convinces Edmun to join forces and share information. When Williams reaches the ship, he quickly finds the bag of jewels in the safe, but immediately pressures Ben to smuggle them through Shanghai. Ben tries to wrest the jewels from the crooked agent, but Williams runs and hits his head on a hatch. Ben finds his dead body and then reveals to Jenine his suspicion that there is something more valuable onboard. They soon discover millions in gold bullion hidden underneath the deck, and stumble upon handyman Bendy, who confesses to scavenging the ship and agrees to help them trap Edmun. To that end, Ben returns to Kotir alone and lies to Edmun that Jenine brought the jewels to the next town. He then reveals everything to Hennick, who stubbornly jails him for Jim's murder. Meanwhile, Quick Boy, who is one of the former gold smugglers, informs Edmun about the bullion. Harry overhears and insists on joining them, prompting Quick Boy to stab him in the back. After Edmun and Quick Boy race off the ship, Harry staggers into Hennick's office and reveals their plan. Hennick releases Ben and together they chase Edmun. When Edmun and Quick Boy reach the ship, Edmun chases Jenine below deck while Bendy knocks out Quick Boy. Ben arrives just in time to save Jenine, knocking Edmun out. Aboveboard, Hennick proclaims Williams' death an accident, and Quick Boy reveals that he saw Edmun kill Jim. With his name cleared for the second time, Ben embraces Jenine, who pledges her renewed love for him.