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In 1942 New York City, street photographer Leon “Bernzy” Bernstein photographs crime scenes, always arriving a step ahead of police. Known by his newspaper credit, “The Great Bernzini,” he is friendly with everyone in town, from officers to gangsters, but stays unaffiliated to capture objective images. Bernzy develops his photographs from a makeshift darkroom in the trunk of his automobile, and sells them to the Daily News before other photographers arrive at the scene. Bernzy submits a book of his photographs to Rineman & Sons Publishers, hoping they will produce a book of his work. However, H. R. Rineman deems his images too “vulgar.” Later, Bernzy meets Kay Levitz, owner of the upscale dinner club “Cafe Society,” where he is directed to a back entry by the doorman, Danny. Kay recently inherited the establishment from her deceased husband, Lou, and tells Bernzy that her husband trusted him. She asks Bernzy to investigate a man named Emilio Portofino, who is demanding a stake in the nightclub. He claims that Lou Levitz owed him money and put the nightclub up as collateral. Bernzy is smitten by Kay, and agrees to the job, on condition that he is allowed to enter Cafe Society through the front door. Later, Kay orders Danny to admit Bernzy through the front entrance, but he argues that “shutterbugs” are bad for the club. After learning from his police contacts that Emilio Portofino has no criminal record, Bernzy pays a visit to his apartment, and finds Portofino lying in a pool of blood. When he telephones police to report the homicide, they already know the address. Bernzy telephones Kay Levitz and tells her that Portofino was killed by the mafia. Inspector Conklin arrives to the crime scene with Agent Chadwick from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and Bernzy is taken to the station for questioning. However, Bernzy remains mum. After his release, Bernzy is forced into a vehicle by the henchmen of mob boss Frank Farinelli, and his camera is broken in the struggle. Farinelli asks Bernzy about the FBI’s involvement with the investigation. Bernzy has little information to share, and falsely claims that Portofino hired him to take his photograph. Farinelli senses that Bernzy is lying, but lets him leave. In time, Bernzy returns to Cafe Society and warns Kay that someone besides Portofino may come along and claim ownership of the nightclub. He asks her why she hired him, and Kay says he is different from other “shutterbugs.” She is intrigued by his hope of publishing a book of photographs, a rumor she learned from Danny the doorman, and Bernzy offers to show her the work in progress. Later, Bernzy sneaks into Agent Chadwick’s office and reads the file on Portofino. Everything has been blacked out on the “classified” report, except a reference to a case called “Black Gas,” which Bernzy suspects refers to the gas shortage, prompted by World War II. When he photographs a man that has been murdered in his vehicle, Bernzy identifies him as one of mobster Mark Anthony Spoleto’s men. Police on the scene find valuable gas coupons amongst the dead man’s possessions, and Bernzy suspects the killing is related to Portofino’s murder. While Bernzy waits for Kay outside her home, she arrives with Spoleto, who demands a stake in her business. Kay is surprised when Bernzy reveals that her husband and Portofino may have been involved in a gas coupon scheme, and she is surprised that Lou was involved in illegal activities. Kay reports that Spoleto asked why Bernzy was hired to take Portofino’s photograph, prompting him to remember fabricating that story for Farinelli. He realizes that one of Farinelli’s men is spying for Spoleto. Sometime later, Bernzy sneaks onto the grounds of Spoleto’s heavily guarded villa and secretly photographs a group of men as they leave. Developing the photographs, Bernzy recognizes one of Farinelli’s men, Sal Minetto, and a Washington, D.C., insider named Thatcher Gray. He asks Kay to hide the incriminating photographs, and give them to Farinelli if anything should happen to him. In time, Bernzy visits Sal Minetto at his home, shows him the photographs taken at Spoleto’s villa, and demands to know what Spoleto is up to. Sal reveals that a mafia war is looming, as rival mobs are fighting to obtain the valuable gas coupons, initially procured by Portofino from Thatcher Gray, who works at the Office of Price Administration (OPA). Portofino had first sold them to Lou Levitz, and Lou had made a deal to sell them to Spoleto before his death. Farinelli later threatened Portofino to reveal his gas coupon source, before killing him. Sal, filled with guilt for betraying his mafia family, confesses that Spoleto plans to murder Farinelli’s entire crew with his help. Bernzy begs to know the time and place of the massacre so he can be there to takes photographs. Soon after, Sal informs Bernzy that the massacre will occur during the monthly dinner Farinelli’s throws for his men, but the location is chosen at the last minute for their safety. Later, Kay finds Bernzy’s book of photographs in her office, and learns that he left them for her after Danny the doorman banished him from the club. Furious with Danny, she fires the doorman, and looks at the photographs, surprised to see a picture of herself with the caption: “Beauty.” Kay goes to Bernzy’s apartment and asks why he gave her his book, and he reluctantly reveals the upcoming mob massacre. Kay realizes he is risking his life to provide photos that will protect her from Spoleto, and kisses him. In time, Kay is surprised to see Danny back at the club. Spoleto waits outside and reveals that Danny told him about Bernzy’s discovery, prompting Kay to make a deal with Spoleto. On the night of the attack, Sal receives a telephone call from Farinelli, telling him the name of the restaurant where they are meeting, but he is murdered by Spoleto’s henchman before he can inform Bernzy. Learning of Sal’s death, Bernzy calls every restaurant in Little Italy to identify the site of the party, and finally tracks it down to “D’Angelo’s.” When Spoleto’s gunman arrives to kill him, Bernzy sneaks out his fire escape. He bribes a kitchen worker at the restaurant to sneak him into a closet where he hides before the guests arrive. As the massacre ensues, Bernzy takes photographs, but is spotted by a gunman. As he takes aim, Bernzy snaps a picture instead of ducking, and the gangster is killed by enemy fire. After the bloodbath, Spoleto’s men flee, and Bernzy is left shaken. Police arrive and spot Bernzy leaving the crime scene. He gives his film to his journalist friend, Arthur Nabler, to deliver to the newspapers, along with the photograph of Thatcher Gray with Spoleto. Arthur notices that Bernzy’s stomach is bleeding, but he insists that Arthur take him to the police station. There, the FBI accuses Bernzy of withholding evidence and orders his imprisonment. However, the chief of police enters with several newspapers, featuring Bernzy’s photographs of the mob massacre and a story about the gas coupon scandal. Bernzy is hailed a hero, and taken to a hospital to have his wounds treated. He wakes to find Kay by his side, and accuses her of causing Sal’s death by revealing their plan to Spoleto. He reveals that he would have done anything for her, even agreed not to photograph the massacre. Kay insists that all she ever wanted was to have her nightclub back, but admits that she and Bernzy shared “something special.” Outside the hospital, Bernzy is greeted by a cheering crowd. As “shutterbugs” snap his photograph, his friend, Arthur, announces he has found a publisher for Bernzy’s book, The Public Eye.

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