Allotment Wives

Allotment Wives 1945 is a film noir starring Kay Francis in her final screen appearance. Its plot follows an army investigator who tries to shut down a scam that preys on soldiers and unknowingly falls in love with the woman behind it.

The story picks up when Colonel Pete Martin from the Army Intelligence is assigned to investigate a series of incorrect claims for support that has been discovered at the O.D.B. Among other things, there is evidence that some women have married multiple times to get more money. Petes job is to find these fraudulent women and bring them to justice. Pete goes undercover and pretends to be a newspaper reporter, which used to be his occupation before the war. He begins his investigations on the West Coast, keeping an eye on the suspected women. He observes a suspicious young woman named Helen Keefe Elizabeth Wright give cash to an equally suspiciouslooking man, George Shields, and after that she is introduced to another young man. Pete immediately orders their arrest. At the restaurant, a businesswoman named Sheila Seymour introduces herself to Pete. She claims to be the owner of an upscale beauty salon and running a canteen for servicemen. Pete is unaware that she also is the head of the racketeering business and in charge of all the allotment frauds. To her aid she has three men, Whitey Colton, Louis Moranto and Deacon Sam.Since Pete discovered a case of ongoing fraud in the restaurant, Sheila is furious with her associates, and fires Moranto for not doing his job properly. Whitey is sent to tail Pete and keep track of his investigation. Whitey follows Pete to the O.D.B. offices and confirms he is an investigator. Pete continues to pretend being a reporter and goes to Sheilas canteen. He meets her and they agree to meet the next day for an interview as background to one of the article he pretends to write. He is still unaware of Sheilas involvement in the racket. ........

Source: Wikipedia