The story of Eddie Carbone, an Italian American longshoreman, working the docks around the Brooklyn Bridge.

Eddie lives with his wife Beatrice and her orphaned niece, Catherine, who is growing into a young woman. His marriage has begun to suffer as his feelings for the girl change.

Eddie returns home one afternoon with the news that he has agreed to put up Beatrice's two cousins, brothers Marco and Rodolpho, who have arrived in New York as illegal immigrants.

Although Eddie, Beatrice and Catherine are at first excellent hosts, ominous cracks appear when Rodolpho and Catherine begin dating.