Hell’s Kitchen

Buck Caesar, a paroled convict, agrees to contribute to a teenage reform shelter after advice from his nephew Jim Donahue. Jim believes the publicity will help both Buck and the shelter. Buck commits to the donation and to supporting the shelter's work.

Beth secretly takes Tony, Gyp, Joey, Bingo, Ace, Soap, and Ouch out for a day in town. They are caught returning by superintendent Hiram Krispan, who threatens serious punishment for the plan. Tony ends up locked in the freezer after Krispan asserts his authority.

Buck and Jim arrive at the reform school and witness Beth being fired by Krispan after the Tony incident. Tony tells Buck and Jim that Krispan is cruel, beating and starving the boys, and that some would rather be back in reform school. The removal of Beth signals a turning point for the shelter.

Buck decides to take over the shelter, enlisting Beth and Jim to reform it into a community 'Boy's Town.' Tony is named Mayor and Gyp becomes Chief of Police, while Jim helps by forming a hockey team for the boys. The group begins planning a more humane, organized structure.

Krispan continues to run the school while keeping two sets of financial books to hide the shelter's finances from Buck's reform effort. He resents the new leadership and looks for ways to regain control.

Krispan teams up with Mike Garvey to form a professional hockey squad to replace the shelter's own team and set up Buck for a public defeat. Buck discovers Garvey's scheme and feels betrayed by his former associate. The planned swindle sets off a confrontation that strains Buck's parole.

In the confrontation, Buck violently knocks Garvey onto the ice after learning of the swindle. The blow violates his parole, forcing Buck to go into hiding to avoid arrest. Garvey is taken to the hospital while Buck stays out of sight.

Krispan reinstates harsh discipline and locks Joey in the freezer when the boy defies him. The dog escapes with Krispan's pistol, which Gyp later finds; Joey dies after nine hours in the freezer, a fact that proves Krispan's murder to the others.

At Joey's funeral, Ace, Gyp and Tony incite the other boys to revolt and capture Krispan. The boys hold a makeshift trial in the shelter's administration building, with Soap prosecuting and Tony serving as judge. They find Krispan guilty of murder and prepare to bury him alive.

Krispan panics and leaps out the window, escaping to a barn where Gyp sets a fire. He tries to flee in a car but crashes into a tree and is further attacked by the boys. Buck arrives at the scene and orders the group to let the authorities handle Krispan.

After the confrontation, Buck informs the boys that Krispan's punishment will be handled through proper legal channels, and Beth and Jim will run the shelter in his absence. He admits he committed a crime and leaves with a waiting policeman to serve his parole violation.

During a final celebratory dinner, Buck discusses the new arrangement and the boys sing 'Auld Lang Syne' as a farewell. Buck steps out to meet the waiting officer and is taken away to prison for his parole violation, while Beth and Jim assume leadership of the shelter.