[2][3][4] The film is loosely based on Il commissario di Torino by Riccardo Marcato and Ugo Novelli.

[1] Michele Parrino (Enrico Maria Salerno) is a grouchy, solitary, sickly but legitimate police commissioner in Turin.

Parrino, helped by boozer journalist of La Stampa Paolo Ferrero (Luciano Salce) and supported by his wealthy girlfriend Cristina (Françoise Fabian), shall investigate about a murder of a young woman, daughter of a rich man.

Also if his city appear like an historical and industrial center, with a lot of rich family, Parrino's investigations discover another reality: a deceiver city, when the most rich capitalists live in luxury surrounded by vices, and the common people live of illusions.

For revenge, Parrino and Ferrero go to Teatro Regio as guests, but with the only goal of taunt the crime lords giving to them compromising sexual photos.