A portrait of New York during the depression, with views of Manhattan from boats and scenes of the lights of Broadway and what goes on in nightclubs.

During a dinner party at the Brookfield family estate, private detective Craig Kennedy relates a story of one of his unsolved murder cases. What Kennedy knows, and the other guests do not, is that the person who was the killer in the unsolved mystery is in the room, and Kennedy makes plans to expose him.

'While youthful, innocent love blossoms between bashful Stew Kennedy and Elizabeth Gilbert, Dorothy Kennedy falls in love with Jack Conover, completely under the domination of his "aunt," who later proves to be his mother. Though he loves Dorothy, Jack resists making a marriage proposal because he thinks he is illegitimate. Meanwhile, Dorothy becomes pregnant, and efforts to inveigle her into an abortion are thwarted by Dr. Remington, the family doctor, who notifies her mother of her condition. When Jack discovers his true parentage, he offers to marry Dorothy; and ultimately she accepts.' (AFI)