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Floyd Olsen didn't envision his life turning out as it had up to this point. His hasty courting of local beauty Elsa had resulted in an unplanned pregnancy and a shotgun wedding. Floyd was the baby of his family and considered the black sheep.
His prospects begin to brighten when his brother gets him an interview at a local bank. Floyd excels with figures, and his skills lead to a promotion to handling accounts. However, he squirrels money away from Elsa and spends nights out with a disreputable friend. Floyd's desire to live an untethered life leads him to take greater risks, such as going to a brothel or playing poker. Floyd believes his luck will never end, but he soon learns he is in for a rude awakening.
The story of Floyd Olsen is a fascinating character study in how a person can fall so far when they are unable to find fulfillment in life. Floyd has the woman of his dreams and a beautiful baby girl, but he often pays no heed to either of them. The suffering of Elsa and her decision about whether to stand by her lecherous and irresponsible husband or not is the standout conflict in this sterling drama. Despite his errant ways, Elsa's love for Floyd remains constant. However, 1920s America's frustratingly limited role for women in the household prompts her to tolerate Floyd's absences and harsh words up to a point. Floyd's decisions in life are fateful, yet his conceit and delusion don't allow for self-accountability. The story proves riveting with every high and low in Floyd's life, and the conclusion proves more than affecting.