本片讲述的是在本世纪30年代纽约艺术和戏剧界发生的故事。当时,美国各地都在爆发罢工,文化革新思想的萌芽充满个整个纽约城。本片由多个故事互相编织在一起:纳尔逊.洛克菲勒(Nelson Rockefeller)授权墨西哥艺术家迪戈.李维拉(Diego Rivera)将达芬奇的名作出卖给百万富翁,以便为墨索里尼的战争筹备基金;一个偏执的口技艺术家试图解散他的轻歌舞剧团,因为他发现剧团的成员们竟然都是共产主义者;22岁的青年导演奥森.威勒斯(Orson Welles)导演了一出名为“大厦将倾”(The Cradle Will Rock)的戏剧,在公演当日晚即遭美国士兵强行禁演。In 1930s New York Orson Welles tries to stage a musical on a steel strike under the Federal Theater Program despite pressure from an establishment fearful of industrial unrest and red activity. Meanwhile Nelson Rockefeller gets the foyer of his company headquarters decorated and an Italian countess sells paintings for Mussolini.