After runaway Ben Young is robbed and left on his own, he is taken in by Lil, the head of a Chicago brothel. Acting as a surrogate mother for Ben, who thinks she runs a boardinghouse, Lil gets him a job with Francis Sullivan at the local newspaper. As Ben is exposed to the workings of the big city, he realizes the extent of government corruption and sets out on the daunting task of reforming Chicago politics, finding several allies along the way.
| Directing | Norman Jewison | Director |
| Writing | Ben Hecht | Novel |
| Writing | Abram S. Ginnes | Screenplay |
| Production | Lynn Stalmaster | Casting |
| Editing | Ralph E. Winters | Editor |
| Art | Robert F. Boyle | Production Design |
| Editing | Byron 'Buzz' Brandt | Editor |
| Costume & Make-Up | Ray Aghayan | Costume Design |
| Production | Norman Jewison | Producer |
| Camera | Richard H. Kline | Director of Photography |
| Production | Hal Ashby | Associate Producer |
| Sound | Henry Mancini | Original Music Composer |
| Art | George B. Chan | Art Direction |
| Art | Edward G. Boyle | Set Decoration |
| Costume & Make-Up | Del Armstrong | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Sugar Blymyer | Hairstylist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Naomi Cavin | Hairstylist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Lynn Del Kail | Hairstylist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Mr. Kenneth | Hair Designer |
| Production | Joe L. Cramer | Unit Manager |
| Production | Patrick J. Palmer | Production Manager |
| Production | Allen K. Wood | Production Supervisor |
| Directing | Mike Moder | First Assistant Director |
| Directing | Philip L. Parslow | Second Assistant Director |
| Directing | Wendell Franklin | Assistant Director |
| Art | Sam Gordon | Property Master |
| Art | Joseph Hurley | Production Illustrator |
| Art | Nikita Knatz | Production Illustrator |
| Art | William Maldonado | Construction Coordinator |
| Sound | Robert Martin | Sound |
| Sound | Clem Portman | Sound Recordist |
| Sound | James Richard | Sound Editor |
| Crew | Sass Bedig | Special Effects |
| Visual Effects | Albert Whitlock | Matte Painter |
| Lighting | Pat Blymyer | Gaffer |
| Camera | Wilbur Gossman | Camera Operator |
| Camera | Marvin L. Gunter | Camera Operator |
| Camera | Gaylin P. Schultz | Key Grip |
| Production | Larry DeWaay | Location Manager |
| Sound | Richard Carruth | Music Editor |
| Directing | Bob Forrest | Script Supervisor |
| Editing | James D. Young | Assistant Editor |
| Costume & Make-Up | Angela Alexander | Costumer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Wesley Jeffries | Costumer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Marjorie Plecher | Costumer |
