A stellar cast tells the story of Maria Torlato-Favrini (Ava Gardner) through the eyes of her long time friend Harry Dawes (Humphrey Bogart) and an acquaintance Oscar Muldoon (Edmond O'Brien). Beginning at her funeral the two go back over her story of becoming a star at the hands of obsessive and abusive millionaire Kirk Edwards (Warren Stevens). Once she becomes a star she leaves Kirk and goes in to the arms of a rich playboy Alberto Bravano (Marius Goring). When she realizes that he can't provide the happiness she seeks she turns to Count Torlato-Favrini (Rossano Brazzi). However, things go wrong with the Count when Maria attempts to have a child in the arms of a lover because the Count is unable to have children. In the end it is a tragic love story for Maria when the Count objects to her pregnancy, ending the story back at her funeral.