Smo v letu 1938 v Harlemu. Glavno prizorišče dogajanja je nočni klub Sugar Ray, kjer mrgoli hazarderjev, lepih deklet in zabave. Lokal vodita gospod Sugar Ray in njegov posvojeni sin Quick. Nad uspehom kluba ni navdušen mafijski šef Bugsy Calhoune, ki ima zaradi tega izgubo s svojim lokalom. Da bi izvedel, zakaj je Sugar Ray taka uspešnica, tja kot vohunko pošlje svojo lepo ljubico Dominique. Quick se takoj zagleda vanjo, s tem pa si nakoplje številne težave.
"Sugar" Ray is the owner of an illegal casino, who contend with the pressures of vicious gangster and corrupt policemen who want to see him go out of business. In the world of organized crime and police corruption in the 1920s, any dastardly trick is fair!