Body Fever (1969)

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A lackadaisical gumshoe is caught between a glamorous thief, a gang of ruthless hoodlums and a handful of vicious drug peddlers in this quirky crime drama from cut-price auteur Ray Dennis Steckler. Carrie Erskine (Carolyn Brandt) is a beautiful cat burglar who late one night cracks the safe of Big Mack (Bernard Fein), a powerful underworld boss. However, before she can make off with the bag he's locked inside, Erskine is attacked by Frankie (Gary Kent), a burly crook who knows what's inside the satchel -- a fortune in heroin. Big Mack isn't the least bit happy about losing his goods, and gives Brett (Brett Pearson), one of his underlings, three days to find the dope and deliver the thief or else. Meanwhile, Ferguson (Alan Smith), another one of Big Mack's goons, wants to get back in the gangster's good graces by finding the dope; knowing that Erskine was after Mack's valuables, he persuades Charlie Smith (Ray Dennis Steckler), a private eye who is short on money, to help him find her and the bag. Smith learns that one of Erskine's best friends is Frankie's boyfriend, and is drawn into the seedy world of drugs and crime in Hollywood as he discovers Erskine is more of an ally than a criminal. Steckler (who has also acted in films as Cash Flagg) took over as leading man in Body Fever (aka Super Cool and The Last Original B Movie) after three days of shooting due to disagreements between himself and the actor initially cast as Charlie Smith, with Steckler donning the toupee originally purchased for his male star. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi