Strange Bargain (1949)

In the shadow of financial hardship, Sam Wilson finds himself trapped in an unrelenting struggle to keep his head above water. As he musters the courage to ask his employer for a raise, he is instead confronted with the bleak news that the company is on the brink of collapse and he is soon to be jobless. But the grim revelation doesn't stop there. His boss, a failing businessman burdened by his own financial troubles, unveils an ominous plan to secure a future for his family through his life insurance policy. In a chilling twist of desperation, the boss requests Sam's assistance to transform his impending suicide into a seemingly violent robbery-murder, hoping to outwit the insurance company. Sam, however, is determined to persuade his boss to abandon this dire scheme. His efforts seem to have paid off, only for him to discover that his boss has gone through with the tragic act. Caught in the throes of this unexpected turn of events, Sam finds himself following the macabre instructions left by his boss, setting the stage for a murder most foul. "Strange Bargain" is a gripping tale of desperation and deception, where the boundary between survival and morality becomes increasingly blurred. As the plot unravels, viewers are left to wonder: how far would one go when pushed to the edge?

Strange Bargain is a mystery movie featuring Walter Sande and directed by Will Price.

Strange Bargain is currently streaming on TCM.