Calcutta

The plot unfolds in the immediate post‑World War II era when international travel and illicit networks are on the rise. Calcutta and Chungking are depicted as cosmopolitan hubs tied to a larger, shadowy trade in jewels. The period’s tension—war's aftermath and colonial dynamics—frames the investigation and danger.

Calcutta in the immediate postwar period is the setting for the action, centered on the Hotel Imperial where pilots and locals cross paths with smugglers. Chungking serves as the route and backdrop for the intercontinental chase that threads through the film. The story also features a mountainous crash site, emphasizing the perilous geography that heightens suspense.

🕵️ Mystery

A murder sets off a tense investigation across Calcutta’s hotel and the surrounding city. Hidden identities, alibis, and a tangled web of smuggling propel the plot and force the protagonists to reevaluate who can be trusted. The film relies on clues dispersed through conversations, jewelry, and the flight path between Chungking and Calcutta. The sense of danger persists as characters confront the truth.

💔 Betrayal

Loyal relationships are tested as lovers and friends turn suspect. Virginia’s duplicity and the way she uses affection to manipulate Neale heighten the sense of mistrust. The revelation of Bill’s death’s motive exposes personal and financial motives behind the crime. The characters must decide how much they are willing to risk for truth versus self-preservation.

💎 Smuggling

Diamonds and jewels are the currency of power in the plot, driving the criminal scheme and the tension between characters. The bag of jewels found on the plane anchors the motive and origin of the crime. Smuggling networks connect Calcutta to Chungking, weaving economic desperation with personal ambition. The pursuit of contraband shapes alliances and betrayals alike.