In Imperial Russia during the late 1890s, Zalmie, the young son of a rabbi, and his mother make a desperate escape to America following the rabbi's murder at the hands of the Cossacks. Their journey leads them to the bustling streets of New York City, where Zalmie finds himself drawn into the world of entertainment by Louie, a charismatic performer at a local burlesque house. Zalmie's initial task involves distributing chorus slips—handy sheets of paper with lyrics that encourage audience participation in the shows. As the years roll on and Zalmie transitions into adolescence, he spends an increasing amount of time backstage with Louie, soaking in the glitz and glamour of the performances.
Tragedy strikes when Zalmie’s mother falls victim to the horrific Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Following this loss, he commits himself fully to the theatrical life, working alongside Louie at a small theatre. Although he dreams of being a singer, puberty complicates matters as his voice undergoes radical changes, presenting a formidable obstacle in his journey. With the onset of World War I, Zalmie travels the world, performing for troops while dressed as the backside of a pantomime horse. However, during a German air raid, he sustains a severe throat injury, marking the end of his singing aspirations.
Upon returning to New York, Zalmie attempts a comeback as a clown and falls head over heels for a stripper named Bella. Determined to transform her into a celebrated singer, he unfortunately finds himself entangled with gangsters, including the dangerous mob boss Nicky Palumbo. After Bella becomes pregnant, Zalmie secures financial backing from Palumbo for their wedding. Bella does find a measure of success, but her life tragically ends when she opens a bomb intended for Zalmie. Their son, Benny, a reserved child, channels his grief into becoming a skilled jazz pianist.
In a heartbreaking turn, Benny marries Palumbo's daughter at his father's urging and enlists to fight in World War II, desperately seeking atonement for the sins of his family. Tragically, Benny meets his end in Nazi Germany during a moment of innocence as he plays the haunting melody of "Lili Marleen" on an abandoned piano. The Nazi soldier, entranced by the music, does not react until the song concludes, only to cruelly thank Benny before turning his gun on him. With Benny gone, his wife and son, Tony, struggle to navigate their new reality as they witness Zalmie publicly denouncing Palumbo on television.
Tony, a teenager, embarks on an adventurous cross-country trip, stealing his stepfather's car. After weeks on the road, he finds himself working at a diner and later in California where he takes up dishwashing again. His fortunes change when a budding rock group hears him play the harmonica and invites him to join, leading to initial success before the dark shadow of addiction creeps in. Both Tony and the band’s lead singer, Frankie Heart, become enmeshed in a web of heroin dependency. Amidst this chaos, an accident leaves Tony hospitalized after a fall during one of Frankie's shows.
As Frankie's brief marriage to drummer Johnny Webb ends in divorce, she begins a passionate affair with Tony. Their band’s struggles culminate in a disastrous event when Frankie overdoses just before a performance after Jimi Hendrix. Meanwhile, Tony discovers the existence of Little Pete, a blue-eyed boy he fathered after an encounter with a waitress during his travels.
In a compelling shift, Tony returns to New York City with Pete in tow, becoming deeply involved in the dangerous world of drug dealing. While Pete pursues his musical aspirations with an acoustic guitar, Tony dissipates any earnings, choosing drugs over family. A fateful confrontation occurs when they argue about a guitar, leading to a revelation that could shatter their fragile bond. In a moment of reflection, Tony gifts Pete Benny's cherished harmonica before pawning Pete's guitar in a moment of misguided desperation.
The following day, Pete is approached with drugs and a pawn slip for his guitar, believed to be a farewell from Tony. After years of selling drugs to musicians, Pete finally takes a stand, refusing to deal unless they listen to his music. When he plays "Night Moves" for the band, his raw talent stuns everyone, leading them to sign him on the spot. As the story unfolds, Pete blossoms as an artist, proudly performing alongside the band to raucous applause, a testament to both his and his father's enduring legacies.
