New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.

• Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions
• United Artists
• Tony Curtis
• Burt Lancaster
• Susan Harrison
• Martin Milner
• Jeff Donnell
• Sam Levene
• Joe Frisco
• Barbara Nichols