故事设定于1955年，叙述摄影师丹尼斯·史托克和好莱坞男星詹姆斯·迪恩在一场派对上首次碰面；狄恩想透过杂志的照片来为自己添增名气，因此瞒着老板与丹尼斯一同到对方的家乡印第安纳州，途中丹尼斯除了拍下他多张美照外，还为两人产生了坚韧的友情。
美国内战结束的十年后，当年的南北战争英雄纳森（汤姆•克鲁斯 Tom Cruise）因无所事事而终日酗酒。一次偶然的机会，他结识了来美做生意的日本商人。纳森的彪炳战绩令对方刮目相看。此时正值明治维新时期，日本天皇意欲训练一支现代化的作战部队，于是纳森被请到了日本。 日本很 多武士都不欢迎纳森的到来，他们坚决不肯抛弃传统的武士道精神，对将武士西化十分反感。他们在首领乌吉奥（渡边谦 饰）的带领下举刀起义，躲到了一条偏僻的小山村自立为政。天皇大怒，派纳森率领他训练出来的现代化军队去围剿叛变武士。岂料皇军全军覆没，纳森亦成为了阶下囚……
Society sleuths Nick and Nora Charles investigate a murder aboard a floating casino. Nick and Nora Charles are attending a charity benefit aboard a gambling ship. After a murder occurs, suspicion falls on Phil Brant, who had argued with the victim earlier in the evening. When Phil and his wife seek help from Nick and Nora, Nick refuses to get involved. But when shots are fired outside his own apartment, Nick begins to investigate, and he soon finds himself in a confusing case with numerous suspects. Nick and Nora Charles were the ultimate screen couple, husband and wife detectives, always in step and never missing an opportunity to outwit one another as they solved each crime, which they did just in time for the movie's ending. Myrna Loy was a fantastic Nora, the ideal wife and considering she made 14 movies with William Powell, she made it look like they were really married. The Thin Man movies, all six of them, played more like sophisticated screwball comedies than murder mysteries, and their comic banter enhanced the proceedings. Their little wire-haired terrier, Asta, quite often stole the scene as he helped sleuth out the guilty party. He was a great little actor and rumor had it that away from the Thin Man movies, Asta was really Skippy. However, the six Thin Man movies credit this cute pooch as "Asta."
