Charlie Baxter has never been a success. Yes, he's popular with women, but he's not exactly a party guy. A cheerful loser, that's Charlie.

He has even made a hash of his 'death'. For, having almost exhausted a legacy left to him by a rich aunt, he has planned to insure his life and then 'die'. But he has failed to foresee the ramifications of his sinister scheme. And he has reckoned without people cleverer than him - the insurance company, for one.

Then there's his wife, Vera, who is playing along for her own benefit ...