在监狱服刑的5年期间，乔尼·科雷（Sterling Hayden 饰）想出一条绝妙的抢劫计划。出狱后，他集结一帮非法之徒，共同策划抢劫赛马场的两百万美元巨资，并且做到“无一人伤亡”。然而智者千虑，必有一失。乔尼天衣无缝的计划得以顺利实施，却被同伙乔治（Elisha Co ok Jr. 饰）的老婆谢莉（Marie Windsor 饰）打乱。她得知丈夫的计划后，联合情夫沃尔（Vince Edwards 饰）向巨款伸出贪婪之手……　　本片根据里昂努·怀特（Lionel White）的小说《Clean Break》改编的，库布里克担任编剧，并请来著名小说家吉姆·汤普森修改了对白部分。

When FBI Agent Zack Stewart is killed, Agent John Ripley takes over the three cases he was working on, hoping one will lead to his killer. The first involves gangster Joe Walpo and Ripley finds his hideout through Joe's girl friend, Connie Anderson. Joe is killed but it is established he was 400 miles away when Stewart was murdered. The next involves a car-theft gang which Ripley breaks up by using one of the gang, Vince Angelino and his wife Julie. The last case involves Kate Martell, the victim of an extortionist who threatens to kidnap her child unless she pays him $10,000