Hot Cars 1956

Nick Dunn, a used car salesman, can’t close a deal with customers Karen Winter and Arthur Markel, so he is fired. A sympathetic Markel has a car lot of his own and offers a job to Nick, who quits after discovering Markel’s disreputable business: Markel obviously sells stolen cars.

Nick and his wife Jane Dunn face a financial dilemma when their baby son falls ill. Swallowing his pride, Nick asks for his job back with Markel, who promotes him to manager. But the criminal activity continues.

Detective Det. Davenport, on the trail of the racket, tries to get his hands on a hot car. Last minute the lot’s boss, Smiley Ward shows up under a false name and cancels the purchase, claiming the car was already sold to him. Returning shortly after, Davenport warns Dunn to stay at his job. The detective leaves and is murdered by Ward, who shadowed him.

Jane is appalled by Nick’s new line of work. Conspicuous account movements aroused her suspicion, resulting in an argument. Dunn seeks solace in the company of the beautiful Karen, Markel’s assistant. A while before, he had some drinks with her at Jack’s bar. But when the cops come to investigate Davenport’s death, Karen refuses to give Nick an alibi.

Now a framed murder suspect, he escapes. At the gang’s car forging shop, he is abducted by Ward, who threatens to murder him too. On the parking lot at Jack’s bar, a fight between the two ensues. Ward flees to the nearby amusement park, entering a roller coaster. Dunn, who pursued him, joins the fight and Ward is thrown off, falling to his death. Nick tries to explain the hot-car racket to the police, implicating Karen and Markel.