Tough torch singer Petey Brown (Ida Lupino), visiting her family, finds a nest of troubles: her sister, brother, and the neighbor’s wife are involved in various ways with shady nightclub owner Nicky Toresca. Petey has what it takes to handle Nicky, but then she meets San Thomas, formerly a great jazz pianist now on the skids, and falls for him hard. Revolving around a tough and resourceful female protagonist brought to life by Lupino’s mesmerizing performance, with a sweeping jazz score, The Man I Love was Martin Scorsese’s primary inspiration for his film New York, New York.