The Great Flamarion (Erich Von Stroheim) is a trick-shot artist with a stage act consisting of himself and his two assistants, Connie and Al Wallace (Mary Beth Hughes and Dan Duryea). Al has a drinking problem and Connie is tired of the marriage, so she begins to pay more attention to Flamarion, hoping for a way out. When Al is shot by Flamarion during the act on a suggestion from Connie, everyone's lives take a drastic change.