A serial killer has been killing beautiful women in New York City and the new owner of a media company offers a high position in the company to the first of his senior executives who can get the earliest scoop on the case.

Bedridden Amos Kyne is the owner and manager of Kyne Enterprises. Upon Amos' death, his son, the ineffectual and disliked Walter Kyne, takes control of the business. Not wanting to do any of the work but retain the glory, Walter creates a new position, "executive director", who effectively will become head of the organization, and a power struggle erupts between the executives. Meanwhile, a serial killer is on a rampage in New York City, and women fear for their lives. Reporter Ed Mobley tries to catch the killer and to prevent Kyne Enterprises from being destroyed over boardroom intrigues. A surprise "dark horse" wins the "executive director" position.—Huggo (updated by [email protected])

After elderly Amos Kyne dies, his arrogant son, Walter (Vincent Price), takes over the family news empire. He decides he wants to appoint an executive director to do the heavy lifting. Not knowing which of his three senior executives - representing their wire service, daily newspapers and TV news - to select, he tells them that whoever gets the scoop on a string of sex murders will get the job. TV newsman Ed Mobley (Dana Andrews) wants newspaper editor Jon Day Griffith (Thomas Mitchell) to get the job and sets out to help him find the killer. With information from his police contact, he challenges the killer on air, putting both himself and, especially, his own fiancee, Nancy Liggett (Sally Forrest), in danger.—garykmcd (updated by [email protected])