The head of a Mafia family goes head to head with his younger brother who doesn't want to adhere to the old codes of operation.

Following his discharge from the Army, Vince Ginetta, a young Italian-American, marries his girl friend, Emma, and at their wedding celebration a Sicilian folk song, "Vitti 'na Crozza," is sung. He then goes to work for the Mafia in New York City as a bookkeeper. Obviously pleased by the decision is Vince's older brother, Frank, a syndicate board member who adheres to old customs and opposes expanding into new activities such as electronics unions. Despite their mutual affection, the two brothers clash when Frank vetoes any involvement that might cause trouble with the Federal government. As Vince's father-in-law, Bertolo, who is also a board member, instigates a move to replace Frank with his brother, deposed Mafia leader Don Peppino tells Frank that his father and 40 other loyal Mafia members were betrayed by Bertolo and massacred by the new regime. Compelled by tradition to avenge the killings, Frank brutally murders Bertolo and flees to Sicily with his wife, Ida, and his daughter, Carmela. When Vince arrives sometime later, Frank readily understands that his brother has been assigned to murder him in order to test his loyalty to the Mafia. After saying goodby to his wife, Frank takes Vince for a walk and hands him a rifle that belonged to their father. Fully aware that Vince's family will be murdered if he fails to carry out his assignment, Frank kisses his brother and asks for the fatal bullet. Once he has killed his brother, Vince permits Frank's chauffeur to drive him to the airport.