The film was originally slated to be titled The Eyes of Father Tomasino, after the 1955 Lux Video Theatre TV episode it was based on.

San Francisco traffic cop Joe Martini felt the priest was like an actual father to him.

He speaks to homicide Lieutenant Kilrain about his hunch that restaurant owner Sylvio Malatesta could be involved and asks to assist with the investigation.

Something is troubling Sylvio, but the family believes he still misses a sweetheart killed in Italy during the war.

In a ploy to encourage Sylvio to confide in him, Joe pretends that he is a suspect in the murder.