Montana housewife Hattie O'Malley boards a train bound for New York because she's on her way to collect a prize she's won from a radio program.

Getting on board in Chicago is criminal attorney John J. Malone, whose client, Steve Kepplar, just released from prison in Joliet, still owes him $10,000.

In the late 1940s, MGM decided to try to repeat its success with the help of Craig Rice, one of the leading mystery writers of the time.

She was famous for her stories featuring fast-talking lawyer John J. Malone, who often cut ethical corners while solving crimes.

However, MGM replaced the character of Withers with that of "Mrs. O'Malley" due to copyright issues with the publisher of Palmer's stories.