Another case for American private eye Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum). While in London Marlowe is called upon by General Sternwood (James Stewart), who is being blackmailed over his daughter Camilla's (Candy Clark) gambling debts. The mystery deepens when the gun-running husband of Sternwood's other daughter, Charlotte (Sarah Miles), goes missing, and Marlowe finds himself surrounded by the usual web of intrigue and murder.