流浪汉Frank Chambers（约翰·加菲尔德 John Garfield 饰）在路边的一间小餐馆里，被美丽的老板娘Cora Smith（拉娜·特纳 Lana Turner 饰）所吸引，正好那间餐馆正在招工，他便留了下来，成为一名服务生。餐馆老板Nick年纪比Cora大得多，Frank见有机可乘，便多次挑逗Cora，最后两人终于坠入爱河。两人准备私奔，走到半路却发现从此没了经济来源，便回到餐馆，决定谋害Nick，制造Nick出了意外的假象，他们就可以获得Nick的遗产。第一次行动阴差阳错地没有成功。第二次行动，他们成功把Nick杀害，却被一个检察官发现。Cora被告上法庭。在一个律师的诡计下，两人逃脱了法律的制裁。但他们的好日子却还没到来......
该片根据美国作家James M. Cain的同名作品改编。

Helen Brent has just received a Reno divorce. That night, she discovers one of her neighbors, Laury Palmer, and a gentleman caller murdered in their home. The killer is her neighbor's other boyfriend, who won't abide anyone "cutting in" on him. This is Sam Wilde, a man who knows what he wants, is insanely jealous of what he has, and will kill to keep it. Rather than tell the police what she knows, Helen hops a train back to San Francisco...