Kansas City in the 1930s: Private investigator Mike Murphy's partner is brutally slayed, when he tries to blackmail a mobster with his secret accounting records. Lieutenant Speer and his ex-colleague Mike Murphy team up again to fight the mob, although they can't stand each other: while Speer is taciturn, Murphy is a prattler.

Burt Reynolds had his jaw broken when he was hit in the face with a metal chair while filming a fight scene. He was restricted to a liquid diet and lost over thirty pounds by the time the film wrapped.

Lt. Speer:
How about a fast game of sleeper?


Poolroom thug:
What's that?


Lt. Speer:
That's where you take your best shot, and I put you to sleep.


Lt. Speer:
[cracks him over the head with a pool cue]

Continuity: The doctor tells Lt. Speer that Ginny broke her arm when she was hit by the car. However, when she reappears at the end of the movie singing in the club, she is not wearing a cast or showing any sign of injury.

Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Sung by Irene Cara