J·J·亨塞克是在纽约最有影响力的报纸专栏作家,他决定阻止他的姊妹与史蒂夫·达拉斯,一位爵士乐的音乐家结婚。而西德尼·法尔科则是一名二流的报纸专栏的经纪人,正想攀附J·J·亨塞克,于是两人一拍即合,西德尼利用自己的职位之便,制造各种事件来帮助J·J阻止这场婚姻。
[Holding an unlit cigarette]
J.J. Hunsecker:
Match me, Sidney.
Sidney Falco:
Watch me run a 50-yard dash with my legs cut off!
Sally:
But Sidney, you make a living. Where do you want to get?