Val is a young "party gigalo" that is sick of his life after having to pawn his most prized possession. His guitar given him by the "great blues player "Lead Belly". The movies opening scene is showing Val in jail going before a judge that's just not pleased to see his type. After Val promises to leave town imeadietly the judge releases him. He drives until his car quits in a rainstorm. He pushes the car to a place with the only light on in town, it being really late in the night. A jail. There he's befriended by the local sherrif's wife.A woman who has been abused by her husband. He is not pleased to see " Val's kind" in his house/ jail. The nice wife introduces Val to the local general store owner. She offers him a job while her husband is in the hospital. Against Val's better judgement he takes the job. They fall in love and that's when the movie gets heated up. Don't miss this gem.One of Marlon's best. A Tennessee Williams story. Joanne Woodward is excellent as a easy going barfly/flirt.