British agent Joseph Reardon is recruited by spymaster Mackintosh to impersonate an Australian criminal and infiltrate a mysterious spy ring in an operation so covert that no one but Mackintosh and his secretary, Mrs. Smith, know the truth. Reardon robs a postman of a diamond shipment and allows himself to be caught and sentenced to 20 years in Chelmsford Prison, where he becomes acquainted with Slade, a notorious traitor serving a life term. Recruited by an organization that arranges escapes for high profile prisoners in exchange for half of their hidden loot, Reardon, along with Slade, soon finds himself out of jail and in a safe house in Ireland. Mackintosh makes the error of confiding part of his operation to his old friend and patriotic MP, Sir George Wheeler. Wheeler, a covert traitor, arranges to have Mackintosh meet with an accident and exposes Reardon to his captors. Finding himself on the run again. Reardon is aided by Mrs. Smith, who reveals herself to be Mackintosh''s daughter, They both pursues Slade to Malta, where they hope to expose Wheeler for the traitor he is.

The movie has exactly the same plot as the "Escape Route" episode of "The Saint" (1962) (episode 85, 30 December 1966), which had Roger Moore in Newman's role, and Donald Sutherland in Bannen's role. Actor Eric Mason has small parts in both the film and the TV episode. Desmond Bagley is not credited on "The Saint" episode, and his novel "The Freedom Trap" did not appear until 1971.

Jervis:
How'd you scrape your knuckles?


Joseph Rearden:
Shadowboxing a lamppost.

[after a pause]


Joseph Rearden:
I got a little pissed last night.

Crew or equipment visible: Reflected in the side window of the truck when Rearden drives off to meet the airplane at the airfield.