The president of Tredway Corp. has unexpectedly died. Long live the new president. But who will the exec be? There's no official line of succession...and so the shady deals and insider back-stabbing begin. Boardroom and boudoir politics play out in this star-packed tale of corporate machinations directed by versatile Robert Wise (The Sound of Music, The Set-Up). A bottom-line opportunist (Frederic March) and an idealistic manufacturing VP (William Holden) emerge as leading candidates for the top post. But while power-suited men maneuver, a woman (Barbara Stanwyck) may have the most clout. She's the founder's daughter and the company's major stockholder...and may be the velvet power behind the Tredway throne.