Theodore Hickman, a hardware salesman, makes by-yearly visits to Harry Hope's 1910-era waterfront bar for his periodical drinking binges. But on this visit he has decided to try to save the bar's patrons from their "lying pipe dreams."

Jason Robards
as Theodore "Hickey" Hickman

Myron McCormick
as Larry Slade

Tom Pedi
as Rocky

James Broderick
as Willie Oban

Farrell Pelly
as Harry Hope

Robert Redford
as Don Parritt

Ronald Radd
as The Captain

Roland Winters
as The General (Piet Wetjoen)

Harrison Dowd
as Jimmy Tomorrow

Michael Strong
as Chuck