Kansas City 1930’s. Prohibition rules and the mobs run the streets. Clint Eastwood is hard-nosed Lt. Speer, a cop with an unhealthy disrespect for Private Investigators who do things their own way. Burt Reynolds is Mike Murphy, a P.I. who does what he likes and doesn't mind letting Speer know it.  Murphy's partner Dehl Swift (Richard Roundtree), a cool black dude with a line in fancy suits, sees a chance to retire by ripping off the local underworld kingpin and setting him up against the heavyweight from the next block. But Dehl's in too deep and when he ends up playing side salad to a car bonnet, Murphy has to pick up the pieces.