Told in flashback form, the film traces the rise and fall of a tough, ambitious
Hollywood producer Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas), as seen through the
eyes of various acquaintances, including a writer James Lee Bartlow (Dick
Powell), a star Georgia Lorrison (Lana Turner) and a director Fred Amiel
(Barry Sullivan). He is a hard-driving, ambitious man who ruthlessly uses
everyone - including the writer, star and director - on the way to becoming
one of Hollywood's top moviemakers.