A self-absorbed and unprincipled Hollywood movie star who rises from a struggling spieler to fame through exploitation and manipulation. He impulsively marries Kay Bergdahl but treats her cruelly, offends studio chief Kenneth Regan, and becomes box office poison. Upon receiving an Oscar nomination, he hires PI Barney Yale to smear rivals, showing little remorse for the damage caused to friends and lovers. Ultimately, he suffers a crushing defeat when the award goes to Frank Sinatra.