Career

Career

Year: 1959

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: Joseph Anthony

Drama

James Lee adapts his off‑Broadway play for film, directed by Joseph Anthony. Aspiring actor Sam (Anthony Franciosa) will sacrifice family and take any job to become a Broadway star. Director Maury (Dean Martin) refuses to cast him, prompting Sam to marry Maury's girlfriend (Shirley MacLaine). After a failed deal, Maury backs out again, and Sam is drafted into the army.

Career (1959) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Career (1959) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the gritty glow of post‑war New York, an off‑Broadway troupe fights to keep its rebellious spirit alive against dwindling funds and a restless city that promises fame on the Broadway stage. The atmosphere hums with cheap coffee, cramped rehearsal rooms, and the restless chatter of actors who see the stage as both salvation and battlefield. Within this world, a determined playwright is reshaping his modest work for the silver screen, a venture that promises to blur the line between gritty theater and Hollywood gloss.

Sam arrives from the Midwest with a single, stubborn conviction: he will do whatever it takes to become a Broadway star, even if it means sacrificing the comforts of family life. His raw talent is matched only by his willingness to swallow pride, take any job, and endure endless auditions, painting a portrait of an artist whose drive borders on obsession. The tone is intimate yet edged with the pressure of an industry that measures worth by applause and contracts.

Enter Maury, a charismatic director whose own ambitions have carried him from the cramped stages of Greenwich Village to the promise of a Hollywood career. He recognizes talent but also guards his creative vision jealously, setting up a fraught dynamic with the eager newcomer. Complicating matters further, Sharon—the charismatic yet troubled daughter of a powerful producer— becomes entangled in a marriage of convenience that blurs professional and personal loyalties, hinting at the sacrifices artists make to stay in the game.

Against this backdrop, the looming prospect of a military draft adds an urgent, unpredictable shadow, reminding each character that the world beyond the footlights can intervene at any moment. The film swims in a tone that is both gritty realism and wistful yearning, inviting the audience to feel the magnetic pull of ambition, the weight of compromise, and the fragile line between opportunity and loss.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:18

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Movies about relentless artistic ambition like Career

Characters who sacrifice everything for their creative passion.If you enjoyed Career's portrayal of an actor's obsession, you'll find similar stories here. This list features movies about the driven, often difficult journey of creative professionals who stop at nothing to achieve their dreams.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a protagonist on a single-minded quest for creative validation. The central conflict arises from the tension between their ambition and the real-world demands of relationships, financial stability, and personal well-being, often leading to significant sacrifices.

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They are grouped by their shared focus on the psychology of the dedicated artist, a steady pacing that builds the pressure of ambition, and a tone that balances the bitterness of struggle with the hope of potential success.

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The narrative arc is defined by a prolonged and challenging struggle against external forces like industry rejection, political persecution, or systemic barriers. The resolution is a clear, positive outcome that directly results from the protagonist's unwavering resilience.

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Career Summary

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Career Summary

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Career Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Career

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Career

More About Career

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