The Keyhole 1933

Anne Brooks, [Kay Francis], wife of wealthy businessman Schuyler Brooks, is being blackmailed by her former husband Maurice Le Brun, who never finalized their divorce and lied to her about it. Acting on advice from Brooks’ sister Portia DeWitt Brooks, [Helen Ware], Anne books a cruise ship passage to Havana, Cuba, to lure Le Brun out of the United States so that he can be blocked from re-entering.

Suspicious of her behavior, Brooks hires private detective Neil Davis, [George Brent], to follow her and report on whether she is having an affair, but tells him that she is merely a young woman that he’s interested in. Davis begins his assignment while the ship sails toward the Caribbean, and as he monitors Anne, he finds himself drawn into her situation rather than simply reporting on her actions.

Anne leaks to Le Brun the details of her trip, and he boards the ship as well. Davis makes contact with her and sends reports to Brooks that she is not having an affair, but he also begins to develop a genuine rapport with her, blurring the lines between professional duty and personal interest.

Back in New York, Brooks learns about the blackmail and boards a plane to Cuba to apologize to Anne for his initial suspicions. Meanwhile, Anne reveals to Davis that she is married to Brooks and that she is being blackmailed, and he reveals that he is the private detective hired by Brooks to follow her.

Le Brun arrives at Anne’s hotel room for his payoff. To save Anne’s marriage, Davis persuades him to leave via the balcony so that Brooks won’t find him in a compromising position with her, but just as Brooks comes into the room, Anne kisses Davis, telling Brooks that their marriage is over. Le Brun falls from the balcony to his death, ending any further threat of blackmail.