Details

Release year: 1959

Storyline

More than anything in the world, Sam Lawson wants to be a successful actor. Is he willing to sacrifice his wife, happiness and personal reputation to achieve his goal?

Top credits

Directors

Joseph Anthony

Writers

Cast

Dean Martin — Maurice 'Maury' Novak
Anthony Franciosa — Sam Lawson
Shirley MacLaine — Sharon Kensington
Carolyn Jones — Shirley Drake

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Awards

0 wins & 3 nominations

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Did you know

• Carolyn Jones was originally cast as "Sharon Kensington" but switched roles with Shirley MacLaine in order to play Shirley Drake because she wanted the less flamboyant role.

• Dean Martin still had four pictures left in his old contract with producer Hal B. Wallis with whom he hadn't worked after his break-up with Jerry Lewis. Wallis refused to raise Martin's salary, but the star was interested in playing a more serious part and accepted the role of Maury in this picture. After this film, Martin made three more pictures with Wallis: All in a Night's Work (1961), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) and 5 Card Stud (1968).

• One of the earliest Hollywood films to mention (pejoratively) the blacklisting of the McCarthy era, although it is rather circumspect about this.

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