Madison Avenue 1961

Clint Lorimer, Dana Andrews an advertising executive employed by a Madison Avenue advertising agency owned by J.D. Jocelyn, Howard St. John. Clint is terminated after Jocelyn discovers Clint intends to form his own ad agency and steal a top client. Out of spite Clint hatches a scheme to turn a small business Cloverleaf dairy into a large and prosperous one through advertising. Clint approaches reporter Peggy Shannon, Jeanne Crain to write articles about the dairy then transforms girlfriend Anne Tremaine, Eleanor Parker a demure colleague into a glamorous dynamic promotional whiz. Clint's next step is to turn Cloverleaf's mild-mannered owner Harvey Ames, Eddie Albert into a colorful personality to help publicize the business. The plan comes apart first when Peggy becomes weary of being used professionally then when Anne sees a reluctance in Clint in a personal future together and leaves him. A chastised Clint comes back to his senses and decides to pursue a missile project as an account he can bring back to J.D.