High Tide (1947)

In the labyrinthine web of the Los Angeles underworld, Tim Slade, a hard-boiled newspaper man turned private investigator, and Hugh Fresney, the tenacious managing editor of the Los Angeles Currier, find themselves ensnared. Their lives take a perilous turn when a high-speed automobile chase on the treacherous highway from Malibu to Los Angeles culminates in a harrowing accident. Trapped beneath their overturned car, the men are left to the mercy of the encroaching tide. As they grapple with their injuries and the rising water, Fresney unravels a tale of intrigue and betrayal. His boss, Clint Vaughn, has met a violent end, presumably at the hands of gangsters loyal to Nick Dyke, a sinister figure Fresney has relentlessly exposed in his newspaper columns. In the shadowy aftermath of Vaughn's demise, Slade had been hired as Fresney's protector against Dyke's vengeful wrath. In a bitter twist of fate, Slade finds himself ensnared in a love triangle. Once the paramour of Vaughn's alcohol-addicted wife, Julie, Slade's heart now beats for the enigmatic Dana Jons, Vaughn's alluring secretary. The investigation into Vaughn's murder, led by the dogged Police Detective O'Haffey, casts suspicion on Slade, Julie, Dykes, and even Dana. Unconvinced by O'Haffey's findings, Slade embarks on his own quest for truth. High Tide weaves a complex narrative of love, loyalty, and deceit. As Slade and Fresney await their impending fate, they confront the reality of their actions and the dangerous world they inhabit. Their only hope for survival lies in the uncovering of Vaughn's murderer, a truth that could either set them free or seal their doom. Will they uncover the truth in time, or will the relentless tide seal their fate?

High Tide is a crime movie featuring Wilson Wood and directed by John Reinhardt.

High Tide is currently streaming on DIRECTV and TCM.