Filmmaker John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea) is looking to make a serious social statement in his next film, and decides to take to the streets disguised as a tramp. Following his return to the studios he plans to hand out thousands of dollars to the needy, But Sullivan becomes a victim of crime when a tramp steals his clothes and his identity. With the world believing that the great filmmaker is dead, following a car accident involving the tramp, Sullivan has to prove who he really is.

Nicholas Ray directs this film noir adaptation of the novel by Dorothy B. Hughes starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame. Troubled screenwriter Dixon Steele (Bogart) is given the opportunity to reinvigorate his failing career by creating a film adaptation of a trashy novel. After balking at the thought of actually reading it, Dixon hires Mildred (Martha Stewart), who he meets in a bar, to summarise the novel for him. They leave the bar together but when Mildred is found murdered the next day Dixon is the prime suspect. His only forthcoming alibi is from Laurel Gray (Grahame), who testifies to his innocence out of affection, rather than truth. As the pair fall helplessly in love, Laurel is haunted by the possibility that Dixon was the murderer.