In the opening scene, we find Brick Pollitt (Paul Newman), a once-promising high school football star, indulging in a night of reckless abandon as he attempts to relive his glory days by jumping hurdles on an athletic field at Eastern Mississippi High School. However, this drunken escapade ends tragically when he falls and breaks his right ankle.
A few days later, Brick returns to his family's sprawling cotton plantation in eastern Mississippi alongside his older brother, Gooper (Jack Carson), to commemorate their father's 65th birthday on a sweltering August afternoon. Rumors abound that the family patriarch, Big Daddy (Burl Ives), may be suffering from colon cancer, compelling him to finalize his will in favor of either son before his passing. Gooper, a lawyer residing in Memphis, along with his ambitious wife Mae (Madeleine Sherwood), has meticulously positioned themselves as their father's favorites, while they have three children in tow, all of whom are considered by others, including Brick's wife Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor), as "no-neck monsters."
Maggie, who hails from New Orleans and bears a mix of intelligence and bitterness towards Gooper and Mae’s pretentiousness, finds herself at odds with her partner. Brick, who relies on crutches due to his injury, spends the majority of his time holed up in his room, grappling with their strained marriage as he battles his alcoholism. Tensions rise further due to Gooper and Mae's ongoing critiques, especially concerning the couple's lack of children—a constant thorn in Maggie's side.
As the birthday festivities commence, Big Daddy and his wife Ida (Judith Anderson) arrive home from the Oppenheim Clinic, where they learned that he is not, in fact, terminally ill. Ignoring his sycophantic children, Big Daddy chooses to share a ride home with Maggie, who is disheartened by Brick’s refusal to engage with the family. Despite Maggie's attempts to bridge the gap and reveal the positive news about Big Daddy's health, Brick remains consumed by his own demons, declining to join the celebration.
The evening grows tense as emotions boil over; Maggie, desperate to connect with her husband, faces Brick's coldness. When Dr. Baugh (Larry Gates) checks on Brick's ankle, he faces the ethical dilemma of whether to divulge the truth about Big Daddy's fate, which is in fact terminal colon cancer. The doctor decides to shield Big Daddy and Ida from the bitter truth for just a little while longer, preserving a fleeting moment of joy for the family. However, this secret weighs heavily on Brick, who eventually confides in Maggie, darkening the atmosphere with dismay.
As the night progresses and the storm rages outside, the contrast between the birthday party and the family's unsettling dynamics becomes starkly apparent. Big Daddy's confrontations with Brick force both men to reckon with their shared pain and history. Amidst escalating tempers, repressed emotions rise to the surface, particularly the demise of Brick's cherished friend Skipper, whose tragic end hangs in the air.
In a heated exchange, Brick reveals the truth about Dr. Baugh's deception, shattering the illusion of hope surrounding Big Daddy's health. This revelation drives a wedge between Brick and the rest of the family, who continue to scheme about inheritance and possessions. While conversations grow fraught, provoking intense debates fueled by envy and ambition, Brick's subsequent visit to the cellar transforms into a cathartic moment between father and son, as they discover a deeper connection.
Although the evening spirals into chaos, with arguments erupting about Big Daddy's estate, Maggie brings forth a claim that she is pregnant in a bid to bolster family morale, despite it being a fabricated story meant to unite. As tensions mount and accusations fly, Brick strides in to confront the mockery surrounding his condition. Ultimately, the emotional climax occurs in the privacy of their room, where Maggie and Brick reconcile their love, putting aside all lies as they embrace their future together.
