In the silent-film era, attorney Leo Harrigan (Ryan O'Neal) and gunslinger Buck Greenway (Burt Reynolds) are hired to stop an illegal film production. However, Leo and Buck soon team up with the filmmakers and become important players in the show business industry. Leo learns he has a talent for directing, and Buck's cowboy persona quickly earns him leading-man status -- but both men fall for beautiful starlet Kathleen Cooke (Jane Hitchcock), leading to a heated personal rivalry.