Petty criminal Paddy Damion (Sean Connery) is lured into the world of gang warfare and extortion by mobster Harry Foulcher (Alfred Marks). Paddy is no thug but takes the job to help his injured partner in crime (Kenneth Griffith). However, it's criminal mastermind Zhernikov (Herbert Lom) who is really in charge of proceedings, projecting the image of a respectable businessman by day whilst manipulating the local mobsters for his own ends behind the scenes. Playing with fire, Paddy ends up seducing Zerhnikov's beautiful mistress Anya (Yvonne Romain), despite the inherent danger. Meanwhile Detective Inspector Seyors (John Gregson) is on the case, dedicated to tackling organised crime and bringing the mobsters rule to an end.