The film is a 1952 American musical biographical drama about composer and band leader John Philip Sousa's life. It stars Clifton Webb as John Philip Sousa and follows his journey from leaving the Marine Corps to form his own band, to touring the world and performing at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. After the Spanish-American War, Sousa's band tours again, and he writes a new march inspired by the war, which becomes the film's title song "The Stars and Stripes Forever". The movie ends with Sousa leading his 50-piece band in a performance of their famous march, as depicted by the ghostly spirit of Sousa.