When a leather boy with a guitar named Charlie (Elvis Presley) who tools around on a motorcycle clashes with locals with roots, his cycle is damaged. Forced to stay in one place, he finds the next best thing to being on the road, he takes a job as a "Roustabout" with a traveling carnival run by Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyk) who is more than his match in toughness. But she needs Charlie because of her untrustworthy partner Joe (Leif Erickson) who treats the rebellious loner with more hostility than usual because Charlie is also attracted to Cathy (Joan Freeman), daughter of Joe. With his problem-solving attitude and singing ability, Charlie can save the carnival from foreclosure, but is also lured by other entertainment clubs to stay in a hick town. Maggie seems to have a kinship with him and that matters. Charlie is more at home, of course, among the barkers, fortune-tellers, strong men and other sideshow types, of the roustabout life.