Mickey King (Michael Caine) is a hack writer of pulp mystery-thrillers. He welcomes the chance to ghostwrite the autobiography of Preston Gilbert (Mickey Rooney), a famous retired star of gangster movies. When Gilbert's Mafia connections and obsession with macabre practical jokes put King's life in jeopardy, this tongue-in-check action-thriller takes off!
It's a riotous romp around an exquisite, sun-drenched Mediterranean island – with a bizarre assortment of ex-gangsters, oddballs, fascist politicians and an American aristocrat – played to the hilt by Lizabeth Scott. Michael Caine is superb as a dangerous but delightful eccentric. Fun and scary games all the way!