A movie star helps a young singer-actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
When illegal card dealer and recovering heroin addict Frankie Machine gets out of prison, he decides to straighten up. Armed with nothing but an old drum set, Frankie tries to get honest work as a drummer. But when his former employer and his old drug dealer re-enter his life, Frankie finds it hard to stay clean and eventually finds himself succumbing to his old habits.
A Broadway artiste turns a faded film star's comeback vehicle into an artsy flop.
