A film is found that features young German officer Kirk von Metz (Robert Prosky) sleeping with Adolf Hitler. Years later, von Metz is running for chancellor of West Germany and arranges for the murder of anyone who has seen the film. The killings take place in the Washington D.C. area, and Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia officers MacArthur Stern (Gene Hackman) and Ellis Fielding (Dan Aykroyd) are sent to investigate the crimes.