Dangerous to Know

Stephen Recka has entrenched himself as a gangster-turned power broker, shaping city politics and business. He aims to go higher socially, leveraging connections with the mayor and bank. The city is his stage.

A city councillor ambitious to be mayor plants a spy in Recka's office, John Rance. Recka discovers the plot, confirming his network's vulnerability and Rance's hostility. This marks the first crack in Recka's control.

Recka's birthday party is organized by Lan Ying, a friend and hostess, drawing attendees who want a share of city-wide power. The party becomes a showcase of influence and greed. The atmosphere hints at impending clan rivalries.

Margaret van Case, from the town's first family, arrives and catches Recka's eye as he charms her. Lan Ying grows wary, seeing Recka reach for a closer social ascend. A potential alliance forms that could threaten Lan Ying.

Recka meets with John Rance at his apartment. Rance is forced to write a suicide note and then falls to his death from the window. The murder appears to be a suicide, masking Recka's involvement.

Inspector Brandon, an honest and unbribeable cop, starts pursuing Recka for eight murders. However, solid evidence proving guilt is lacking, keeping Recka free for the moment. The pursuit intensifies pressure on Recka's scheme.

Recka uses influence to steer the city's development plans away from Margaret's district as part of ingratiating himself with her. He learns Margaret's boyfriend Phil Easton is a bond salesman and secretly buys $20,000 worth of bonds from him, gradually increasing their business.

Recka pursues Margaret, aiming to bring her into his social circle. Lan Ying warns that chasing her and entering high society is pushing too far, signaling that the risk could unravel his power.

Recka brings two out-of-town hoods to meet Phil. They steal $218,000 in bonds from his bank and kidnap him so it looks like he stole them. The police are tipped off and find Phil drunk when the bonds are missing.

Recka offers to have Phil cleared if Margaret marries him, thereby opening doors to respectable society. Margaret agrees but vows eternal contempt for Recka, recognizing the price of his help.

The out-of-town pair double-cross Recka and flee with the bonds, but are arrested for speeding. Recka realizes Phil could identify them and plans to silence him. He arranges plane tickets for Margaret to run away with him, only to discover the bonds have been swapped for newspaper and that Inspector Brandon has them.

Lan Ying understands Recka's plan to kill Phil and warns that she won't be waiting if he returns. She says an emotional farewell, playing a memory record, and explains that she is the only real friend he has left.

Lan Ying commits suicide with a knife. Inspector Brandon arrests Recka, intending him to be convicted as Lan Ying's murderer and to pay for other crimes he has avoided.

Margaret and Phil finally flee on the plane to their honeymoon, using the tickets Recka had arranged. Recka's downfall is sealed as he loses his one ally and faces justice.