Coleman did not like her role and Faye Emerson replaced her. Bezzerides with Henry Blanke to produce and Nancy Coleman and Helmut Dantine to star. As he is taken away, he asks that Leyden write a book about the affair, and to kindly send him a copy. When the police show up, Peters admits to shooting Dimitrios and does not resist arrest, satisfied with what he has accomplished. Peters sends Leyden away to spare him from witnessing the violence to come then shots are heard. Leyden, his rage over Peters being shot overcoming his fear, grapples with Dimitrios, allowing the wounded Peters to grab the gun. Fearful of being exposed to the authorities, he pays Peters one million francs for his silence but, true to his nature, goes to Peters' home shortly thereafter and shoots him. Meanwhile, Dimitrios double-crossed Grodek, selling the charts himself to the Italian government.Įventually, the two men track Dimitrios down in Paris. Bulic later confessed to the authorities and committed suicide. Dimitrios manipulated Karel Bulic (Steven Geray), a meek, minor Yugoslav government official, into gambling and losing a huge sum, so he could be pressured into stealing charts of some minefields. He had hired Dimitrios to obtain some state secrets. Wladislaw Grodek (Victor Francen) is the next link in the trail. He generously offers Leyden a share, but the Dutchman is interested only in learning the truth. If he is alive, Peters plans to blackmail him for keeping his secret. Peters reveals that he too had dealings with Dimitrios (he had done prison time when Dimitrios betrayed their smuggling ring to the police), and he is not convinced that the man is really dead. Later, he catches Peters ransacking his hotel room. Afterwards, he borrowed money from her and never returned. His ex-lover, Irana Preveza (Faye Emerson), tells of his failed assassination attempt. They reveal more of the man's sordid life. He seeks out Dimitrios' associates all over Europe, none of whom has a kind word for the deceased. Leyden is so fascinated by what Haki tells of the dead arch-criminal that he becomes determined to learn more. A fan of his, Colonel Haki (Kurt Katch) of the Turkish police, believes Leyden would be interested in the story of Dimitrios Makropoulos (Zachary Scott), whose body was just washed up on the beach. Dutch mystery writer Cornelius Leyden (Peter Lorre) is visiting Istanbul.