There is a later film, made in the 1960s, that starred Dick Van Dyke and James Garner, which has a similar plot. It's called "The Art of Love", and deals with Van Dyke, as a painter, who disappears, so that Garner can spread the word that he may be dead. Suddenly the works of the "mysterious missing" Van Dyke become valuable, and Garner moves to swankier rooms (with swankier clothes and cars). Van Dyke gets angry, waiting for him to be able to reappear, but Garner keeps putting off the date. So Van Dyke arranges a new set of clues to frame Garner for his murder, intending to reappear only when his former friend's head is on the guillotine. But on the appointed day...well you have to be there to see it.
Review of Break the News
