James Cagney stars in this classic tale of crime and showbiz. After a theater usher (Cagney) loses his job, he finds his true calling as a crook. But when the police start to close in, he escapes to Los Angeles and stumbles into the movie business. Going straight, he's also surprised to find himself shooting straight to the top. But will he stick to the rules when his former associates come knocking, threatening blackmail?