Told in flashback form, the film traces the rise and fall of a tough, ambitious Hollywood producer, Jonathan Shields, as seen through the eyes of various acquaintances, including a writer, James Lee Bartlow; a star, Georgia Lorrison; and a director, Fred Amiel. He is a hard-driving, ambitious man who ruthlessly uses everyone on the way to becoming one of Hollywood's top movie makers.
Lana Turner
as Georgia Lorrison
Kirk Douglas
as Jonathan Shields
Walter Pidgeon
as Harry Pebbel
Dick Powell
as James Lee Bartlow
Barry Sullivan
as Fred Amiel
Gloria Grahame
as Rosemary Bartlow
Leo G. Carroll
as Henry Whitfield
Gilbert Roland
as Victor "Gaucho" Ribera
Paul Stewart
as Syd Murphy
Vanessa Brown
as Kay Amiel
Elaine Stewart
as Lila
Sammy White
as Gus
