The movie based on the novel "City for Conquest" by Aben Kandel and is about truck driver, Danny Kenny (James Cagney), who starts as a New York boxing contender. His girlfriend, Peggy is played by Ann Sheridan. Danny's brother, Eddie wants to become a professional musician and Danny decides to help him. Peggy falls in love with her dancing instructor and Danny proposes to her but she rejects him. Danny gets blinded in a fight with a boxer who put rosin dust on his gloves. Danny works as an operator for a newspaper stand and Peggy is sad when her dreams of a dancer are dashed. Eddie becomes a successful composer and dedicates his first major symphony at Carnegie Hall to Danny and Danny is listening to the concert on the radio from his newsstand.