What Is The Users About?
The premise of The Users in 300 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a world where the neon glow of studio lights masks a relentless struggle for relevance, Hollywood is portrayed as both a dream factory and a battlefield. The city hums with ambition, its streets paved with whispered promises and polished façades, setting a tone that is at once glamorous and unforgiving. Into this glittering maze arrives a small‑town girl whose heart beats with the same yearning that has driven countless hopefuls to the coast.
Elena Scheider steps onto the scene as a poised and classy figure, instantly aware that in this arena every connection is a potential stepping stone. She finds herself entangled with a network of producers, socialites, and aging stars, where charm and calculation intertwine. The atmosphere is charged with a cut‑throat elegance, where even the most intimate exchanges can serve a larger career strategy.
Randy Brent, a once‑famous actor whose fame has dimmed, becomes the focal point of Elena’s aspirations. Still haunted by the loss of his former stardom, he inhabits a sprawling Hollywood mansion that feels both a refuge and a reminder of better days. Around them, Marina Brent—his daughter—navigates her own precarious place among powerful producers, while Grace St. George embodies the high‑society circles that can lift or crush a reputation with a single invitation. Adam Baker, a seasoned film producer, epitomizes the behind‑the‑scenes manipulation that fuels the industry’s relentless churn.
Against this backdrop, Elena’s plan takes shape: a marriage to Randy that could reignite his career and, in turn, restore her own place in the limelight. Their partnership becomes a delicate dance of ambition, affection, and the perpetual whisper that in Hollywood, success is as fleeting as the next flash of a camera. The film promises a richly textured portrait of love and ambition tangled in a world where every spotlight casts a shadow.
What Happens in The Users?
The complete story of The Users, from the first scene to the last, in 498 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Elena Scheider, a poised and classy figure, is hired by film producer Adam Baker to seduce Randy Brent, the embattled star working in Phoenix on his latest film The Last Man, a post-apocalyptic, dystopian thriller. Since the death of his wife seven years ago, Randy has stepped away from the spotlight and is seen by many as a has-been trying to make a comeback. Elena’s seduction is swift, and before long she moves into the Hollywood mansion Randy calls home.
In Hollywood, Elena is welcomed by the insiders, including Randy’s famous daughter Marina Brent, [Michelle Phillips], and the wealthy socialite Grace St. George, [Joan Fontaine]. Elena and Marina quickly become friends, and Marina opens up about a Love Life tangled with powerful movie producers who use people for their own gain. The only man she claims to trust is married to a formidable, high-society woman. Elena soon hears from her masseur Harvey Parkes, [Michael Baseleon], that the married man is Adam, whose intimidating wife Nancy Baker, [Carrie Nye], is well aware of the affair.
It becomes painfully clear to Elena that Hollywood is built on mutual manipulation, where everyone uses everyone else to advance their careers. She impulsively marries Randy in Las Vegas and leans on Grace to help her ascend the social ladder—attending the right parties and wearing the right clothes. As Randy’s film gears toward release, Marty Lesky, [Alan Feinstein], fights to spin it as a made-for-TV movie, arguing it isn’t theatrical material. Elena and Marina scramble to keep Randy from fading back into obscurity and push for him to land his next big screen opportunity before the film drops.
Elena targets Warren Ambrose, [Red Buttons], a powerful studio boss behind Rogue’s Gallery, a project that promises major success. The industry voices doubt Randy’s chances, suggesting bigger-name leads. Warren directs Elena to Reade Jamieson, [John Forsythe], a wealthy executive producer, and the pair feel an immediate pull. Reade warns that the decisive casting is controlled by Henry Waller, [Darren McGavin], a sharp screenwriter who holds the fate of the project in his hands.
Returning home, Elena discovers Randy in an intimate moment with Andrew Lyons, [Douglas Warner], a screenwriter who hopes to cast Randy in his own project. Enraged by what she sees, Elena leaves, though she reconsiders when she learns that Randy attempted suicide that same night. Marina uncovers a harsher truth about Adam when Nancy reveals he slept with her to secure a lead, underscoring how little loyalty there is in the industry.
With Grace’s help, Elena throws Henry a party; Henry declines, insisting he won’t consider casting Randy. Undeterred, Elena tracks Henry to his hotel, spends the night with him, and ensures that Randy will get the lead role after all. Elena returns home the next day and ends things with Randy. Rogue’s Gallery goes on to contend for the 51st Academy Awards, and in the end, Randy and Marina regain their fame while Elena and Reade Jamieson settle into a happy marriage.
The Users Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Elena is hired to seduce Randy Brent” to “Rogue's Gallery rises; careers and love re-align”. 14 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Elena is hired to seduce Randy Brent
Elena Scheider, a high-class prostitute, is hired by producer Adam Baker to seduce Randy Brent, who is shooting The Last Man in Phoenix. She breaks through his defenses and he begins to fall for her. Their relationship marks the start of a game that blends romance with career manipulation.
When:The Last Man production Where:Phoenix
- 2
Elena moves in with Randy
After their bond deepens, Elena moves into Randy's Hollywood mansion. Randy struggles with love scenes due to his traumatic past, while Elena's presence becomes central to his daily life. The relationship blurs the line between romance and manipulation.
When:Present Where:Hollywood
- 3
Hollywood insiders welcome Elena
In Hollywood, Elena is quickly welcomed by Marina and Grace, while insiders reveal how the industry feeds on power games. Elena learns that Adam secretly orchestrates the affair and that his wife Nancy is aware. The revelation foreshadows the price of ambition in this circle.
When:Present Where:Hollywood
- 4
Elena and Randy marry in Las Vegas
Elena spontaneously marries Randy in Las Vegas, formalizing both their romance and her control over him. She then appeals to Grace to help her become a true Hollywood insider, step by step. The marriage marks a turning point in her scheming ascent.
When:After marriage Where:Las Vegas
- 5
Elena pursues insider status with Grace
Elena starts gracing the right parties, wearing the right clothes, and building connections to influence Randy's career. Grace becomes a key ally as Elena navigates the high-stakes world of studio power. The insider strategy deepens the couple's dependence on Hollywood’s machinery.
When:Present Where:Hollywood
- 6
Race to secure Randy a new role
Elena and Marina try to prevent Randy from fading and push to land him a new role before The Last Man is released. They leverage contacts and plan appearances to keep him in the spotlight. The pressure intensifies as release day approaches.
When:Before film release Where:Hollywood
- 7
Elena seduces Warren Ambrose
Elena seduces Warren Ambrose, a powerful studio owner whose Rogue's Gallery would be a huge hit if he greenlights it. The evolving affair tightens her grip on the industry’s decisions. Her influence begins to shape the film’s casting landscape.
When:During Rogue's Gallery discussions Where:Hollywood
- 8
Casting chatter and a surprising twist
Andrew Lyons hints that he wants Randy in his new project, and Reade Jamieson is involved in the casting process. Elena returns home to find Randy in a compromising situation with Lyons. The revelation raises the stakes for their fragile marriage.
When:During casting discussions Where:Home
- 9
Elena leaves Randy after the discovery
Furious about Randy’s indiscretion, Elena leaves him in a burst of anger. The breakup exposes the fragility of their alliance and the cost of their entwined careers. Personal and professional lines blur more than they should.
When:After discovery Where:Home
- 10
Randy’s suicide attempt and Elena's return
After their separation, Randy attempts suicide, shocking those around him. Elena, moved by the crisis, takes him back, reaffirming their troubled bond. The incident deepens Elena's investment in his career and life.
When:After the breakup Where:Randy's mansion
Show the other 4 events of The Users Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Nancy exposes Adam’s infidelity and Marina learns the truth
Nancy reveals that Adam slept with her to secure the Rogue's Gallery lead, confirming Elena’s suspicions about his manipulations. Marina learns the broader truth about Adam’s pattern with other women and the price of power. The circle of insiders reels from the revelation.
When:During casting and party events Where:Hollywood
- 12
Henry Waller's party and the seduction
Elena throws a party for Henry Waller, who initially refuses to attend. She tracks him down to his hotel and seduces him, ensuring Randy the lead in Rogue's Gallery. The confluence of seduction and power showcases Elena’s strategic play.
When:After the party Where:Henry Waller's hotel
- 13
Elena ends the marriage after delivering casting news
Elena returns home and splits with Randy after delivering the news that Rogue's Gallery is poised to cast him in the lead. The arrangement collapses, and she asserts her independence while still steering events from behind the scenes. The glamorous facade begins to crumble.
When:After seducing Henry Where:Home
- 14
Rogue's Gallery rises; careers and love re-align
Rogue's Gallery becomes a serious Academy Awards contender, reviving Randy and Marina’s fame while Elena and Reade Jamieson solidify their marriage. The world of Hollywood continues to turn on ambition, romance, and leverage. The film closes with Elena as a powered-but-complicated figure in the industry.
When:Awards season Where:Hollywood
Who Are the Main Characters in The Users?
10 characters, among them Elena Scheider (Jaclyn Smith), Randy Brent (Tony Curtis) and Marina Brent (Michelle Phillips): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- ES
Elena Scheider (Jaclyn Smith)
Played by Jaclyn Smith
A poised courtesan with class who uses charm and wit to enter Hollywood's inner circle. She navigates power brokers, forms strategic alliances, and ultimately drives the plot by orchestrating others’ romantic and professional moves to restore Randy's career. Her resolve masks a calculating streak as she pursues the privileges of fame.
- 🎭 Ambition
- 💼 Power
- 💋 Romance
-
Randy Brent (Tony Curtis)
Played by Tony Curtis
Once a leading man and still a draw, he struggles with aging and vulnerability after his wife's death. His insecurities and love life become entwined with Elena's schemes, and his career's revival hinges on the risk-taking and manipulation around him. He oscillates between admiration for Elena and fear of renewed downfall.
- 🎬 Stardom
- 💔 Insecurity
- 🧭 Comeback
- MB
Marina Brent (Michelle Phillips)
Played by Michelle Phillips
Randy’s daughter, a socialite who reveals the exploitative side of Hollywood’s romance-driven image machine. She clings to independence while learning from her mother's and Grace's power plays, and provides a window into the industry’s pattern of using relationships for advancement.
- 👩👧 Family
- 💼 Power
- 🎭 Fashion
-
Grace St. George (Joan Fontaine)
Played by Joan Fontaine
A wealthy socialite who embodies the Hollywood establishment’s charm and influence. She mentors Elena into the insider circuit and exposes the social networks that link glamour to advantage. Her calm, controlling presence foregrounds the era’s elite circles.
- 💎 Elite
- 🕴️ Society
- 🧭 Influence
-
Adam Baker (George Hamilton)
Played by George Hamilton
A powerful producer whose infidelity underlines the double life many industry figures lead. He is a link between the film world and Elena’s ascent, both resisting and enabling others’ ambitions through complicated relationships.
- 💼 Producer
- 🔗 Influence
- 💔 Affairs
- HW
Henry Waller (Darren McGavin)
Played by Darren McGavin
A gatekeeping screenwriter whose casting decisions determine who gets the lead. His pride and professional standards make him a significant obstacle to Elena’s plans, as he resists premature breakthroughs for Randy.
- 🗝️ Gatekeeper
- 🧠 Screenwriter
- 🎭 Authority
- WA
Warren Ambrose (Red Buttons)
Played by Red Buttons
A powerful studio owner who wields influence over rival projects and the market. He represents the aggressive, old-guard side of Hollywood that Elena plays to secure a future for Randy and herself.
- 💼 Studio Boss
- 🤝 Influence
- 🎯 Gatekeeping
-
Reade Jamieson (John Forsythe)
Played by John Forsythe
A wealthy executive producer drawn to Elena, he embodies the romantic and professional intrigue that propels the plot. His partnership with Elena culminates in a union that signals a new, though uneasy, balance of power.
- 💘 Affection
- 💼 Power
- 🤝 Alliance
- NB
Nancy Baker (Carrie Nye)
Played by Carrie Nye
Adam Baker's wife who becomes aware of the affair and reveals insider information. Her role highlights the personal toll of industry entanglements and the constant balancing act between loyalty and self-protection.
- 🕵️♀️ Revelation
- 💔 Loyalty
- 🧭 Influence
- AL
Andrew Lyons (Douglas Warner)
Played by Douglas Warner
A screenwriter who seeks to cast Randy in his project, prompting Elena’s schemes to secure the lead role. His desire to shape the film's cast makes him a catalyst for the escalating power games.
- ✍️ Screenwriter
- 🎯 Casting
- 🤝 Negotiation
Where and When Is The Users Set?
The Users is set in Hollywood, Phoenix and Las Vegas (late 1970s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
late 1970s
The narrative unfolds in the late 1970s Hollywood milieu, a time of bold personalities and shifting studio power. It sits around the 51st Academy Awards, illustrating the era’s obsession with prestige, spectacle, and the blurred lines between art and commerce. The setting emphasizes glamour, scandal, and the price of fame.
Where
Hollywood, Phoenix, Las Vegas
Set largely in Hollywood’s glamorous yet cutthroat social scene, the story threads through mansion parties, backroom deals, and the press circles that define the era. Production work and desert locales frame a contrast between glitz and the costs of fame. Key scenes unfold in Las Vegas with a wedding and in Phoenix during the film’s shoot, highlighting the era’s spectacle and power dynamics.
- 🎬 Hollywood
- 🏙️ City life
- 🗺️ Desert Southwest
What Are the Themes of The Users?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Fame & Power, Showbiz Corruption and Romance & Betrayal.
-
01
Fame & Power
In Hollywood, influence and image govern careers as Elena climbs the insider ladder by charming executives, casting directors, and stars. The film exposes how productions bend to the desires of the powerful, often at the expense of genuine talent. It portrays the seductive pull of fame and the moral compromises it demands.
-
02
Showbiz Corruption
Producers, studio heads, and writers operate in a web of deals and favors that blur the line between artistry and profit. The Last Man and Rogue’s Gallery become battlegrounds for leverage, with casting and project decisions driven by money, status, and access to the right parties. The world Elena navigates reveals a system where power trumps talent.
-
03
Romance & Betrayal
Romance here is transactional and strategic; Elena's marriages and affairs reveal how personal bonds are weaponized for career gains. Trust is fragile as lovers and partners pursue self-interest, leading to betrayals and shifting loyalties. The narrative centers on how love can be both a route to ascent and a vulnerability exploited by others.
What Kind of Film Is The Users?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A cynical and steady-paced drama that exposes the ruthless transactional nature of Hollywood ambition, where relationships are tools for career advancement against a glamorous but emotionally cold backdrop.
- cynical
- manipulative
- melancholic
- ambitious
- glamorous
- tense
- hollywood ambition
- mutual manipulation
- fame and obscurity
- marriage of convenience
Content notes: suicide attempt, sexual exploitation, closeted homosexuality.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Users? Test yourself on the story.
