Jeanne Eagels

Jeanne Eagels is a Kansas City waitress. She becomes the understudy in a Broadway show and a star when she gets a chance to play the part. A once successful actress named Elsie Desmond wants to make a comeback in a new play, but Jeanne betrays her and takes the play for herself. She accepts a proposal from a ne'er-do-well named John Donahue, but both descend into alcoholism.