Perhaps best known as the dapper, urbane, martini-swilling leading man of the 1930s THIN MAN films, William Powell's first film role in Hollywood came by way of this fast-paced crime drama produced by B.P. Schulberg for his own independent production company. Powell, who welcomed the chance to play a sympathetic character after being typecast in villainous roles, plays star newspaper reporter Scott Seddon. Seddon is hired by the paper's editor to infiltrate a gambling ring that is trying to blackmail his daughter, Lola (Clara Bow). While Lola falls for Seddon, he in turn falls for Rita (Alyce Mills), a gang member toughened by the hard knocks of her early childhood.