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
Theodore "Hickey" Hickman

Myron McCormick
Larry Slade

Tom Pedi
Rocky

James Broderick
Willie Oban
Farrell Pelly
Harry Hope

Robert Redford
Don Parritt

Ronald Radd
The Captain

Roland Winters
The General (Piet Wetjoen)
Harrison Dowd
Jimmy Tomorrow

Michael Strong
Chuck

Sorrell Booke
Hugo
Maxwell Glanville
Joe Mott

Charles White
Pat

Walter Klavun
Ed Mosher

Hildy Brooks
Margie (as Hilda Brawner)