In this biopic, waitress Jeanne Eagels (Kim Novak) is desperate for fame and joins the carnival to try to achieve it. Under the watchful eye of impresario Sal Satori (Jeff Chandler), Eagels becomes a dancer -- a position that eventually brings her to New York City. With her heart set on filling a Broadway marquee with her name, Eagels takes acting lessons and earns a job as an understudy for a big production. But what she really wants is the starring role -- and she'll hurt anyone to get it.