Master Sergeant Joe Lawrence (Richard Widmark) is stationed in occupied Berlin shortly after the end of World War II.

Joe plans a daring hijacking of the airplane, aided greatly by the fact that he works for the Air Provost Marshal, who shares the security responsibility for the shipments with the British.

Roger's uncle Dan puts them in touch with Alfie Stratton, a semi-retired crook who can dispose of the gold.

Alfie insists that they use ex-RAF pilot Brian Hammell (Nigel Patrick), to protect his interests.

However, the crew manage to retake control of the airplane after only part of the bullion has been unloaded, and try to take off, only to crash into Alfie's car (used to light the runway) and burn.

In his desperation to get away (with a few gold bars), Brian ends up clinging to the edge of a rising drawbridge, finally losing his grip and plummeting into the water far below.

Warwick bought film rights to the novel in April 1953 and originally announced they wanted Montgomery Clift for the lead.

The movie was part of a new three-picture deal Warwick signed with Columbia (the others being The Cockleshell Heroes and Safari.