 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.