AllMovie

Jim (James Garner) is hired by antiques dealer Thomas Caine (William Daniels) to bid on a rare sculpted bird at an auction. Unfortunately, our hero "gets the bird" in more ways than one when, after purchasing the statue on Caine's behalf, he is attacked by hooligans and the artifact is broken. At this point, Jim would just as soon wash his hands of the whole affair, but in order to avoid paying for the busted bird, he agrees to attend another auction where a duplicate bird is on display. Complicating matters is the existence of a third bird--and of a clever and somewhat lethal art thief who is dogging Jim's trail every inch of the way.