Even the coolest guys have their weaknesses, and for Earl Swagger, a World War II hero, a former Marine, such a sore spot is the mystery of the death of his younger brother and his father, the sheriff. A fearless and cold-blooded warrior, Earl, as part of a police strike force, comes to Hot Springs, a city of numerous casinos, sweepstakes and brothels, run by a big gangster, Owney Maddox, with a steady hand.