本片讲述了二十年代着名的芝加哥犯罪头目疤面人自崛起至暴毙的故事。全片以阿尔卡邦的生平为蓝本，再加上一名有乱伦关系的妹妹，越发使内容显得复杂而敏感，在当年是具有重大影响力的犯罪片之一。导演霍华德．霍克斯力求使全片看起来生动耀眼，暴力镜头有跃出银幕之感，主角保罗．茂尼的演出亦光芒四射，为类型电影的经典之作。

　　A cowboy competes with a gambling tycoon on the Barbary Coast for the hand of a beautiful dance-hall queen.

　　Joe Thunderhorse, a Sioux Indian who has become the wealthy star of a Wild West show, returns home to his reservation after years away and finds that his father is dying and his people are being abused by corrupt white officials.

　　In the Mohave Desert, Olga runs a gas station, lunch counter, and auto camp with her younger sister Myra. In a 24-hour period, Olga must deal with Myra's desire to go to a town dance with a cad, the appearance by happenstance of George, …