Ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman Terry Malloy, dreams of becoming a prize fighter once again. Instead he is left to spend his time running errands for the corrupt boss of the dockers, Johnny Friendly. A murder is commited of fellow longshoreman...

Ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman Terry Malloy, dreams of becoming a prize fighter once again. Instead he is left to spend his time running errands for the corrupt boss of the dockers, Johnny Friendly. A murder is commited of fellow longshoreman Joey Doyle by two of Friendly's thugs that Terry inadvertently witnesses. When Doyle's sister, Edie, suspects that Terry knows more than he is admitting she begins investigating and questioning Terry along with Priest Father Barry. Johnny friendly aided by Terry's brother Charley continue to orchestrate illegal activities. In Terry's confrontation to his love for Edie and discovery of his own brother's murder he gains the motivation he lacked to provide information for the courts that would abolish the ongoing corruption.