Two of the most enduring stars of American cinema, Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney, are paired for the only time at the very start of their careers in the kind of fast-paced, tough crime story for which they became famous. Small-town barber Nick (Robinson) has a penchant for gambling, booze, and women. Aided by sidekick Jack (Cagney), he runs an illegal gambling den in the back room of his shop, where one day he easily beats a cheating gambler (Boris Karloff). Amazed by Robinson's luck and skill, Cagney and friends raise $10,000 to stake him in a big-time syndicate poker game in the city. But complications ensue when Nick arrives in the city and meets an attractive young woman who steers him to a game he doesn't realize is a set-up. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay.