Plot
Eddie Kehoe (Eddie Quillan), a cocky young vaudeville dancer, blames everyone but himself—musicians, stage managers, electricians—when audiences don’t respond to his act. Though he barely scrapes by performing for the smaller venues booked by the McNary Vaudeville company, he remains confident in his solo talent.
Kitty Mayo (Bessie Barriscale), a once-famous burlesque queen now turned vaudeville veteran, takes a kindly, maternal interest in Eddie. She advises him to find a partner, assuring him that “all the big-timers do it.” Hurt at first, Eddie reconsiders and begins looking for someone to join his act.
He meets Rita Carey (Lina Basquette) at a theatrical supply shop, where she’s dancing to encourage her trained duck during a demonstration. Struck by her charm and talent, Eddie lies to her, pretending to be a personal friend of McNary (Crauford Kent), the powerful head of the vaudeville circuit, and promises her a bright future as his partner. Rita agrees.
As they rehearse, Eddie quickly realizes Rita is graceful, creative, and a natural performer. Still, he criticizes her unpolished manner, urging her to be more demure. Rita, who sees through his brashness to a nervous young man trying to prove himself, takes his egotism in stride and grows fond of him. At the theatre, everyone warms to Rita—except Cleo (Carole Lombard), a baby-faced gold-digger who had hoped to become Eddie’s partner on and off stage.
On opening night, Rita is ready early and chats excitedly with two men backstage. They are charmed by her enthusiasm and later reveal themselves as McNary and Owens (Robert Armstrong), a prominent revue producer. Realizing Eddie lied about knowing McNary, Rita is disappointed but remains loyal.
Though McNary and Owens find Eddie overbearing and amateurish, they recognize Rita’s star quality. Despite this, Eddie and Rita continue to perform together and eventually secure an engagement at the cabaret in the Hotel Metropole. One evening, Owens and McNary invite them to join their party at the club. Rita, trying to boost Eddie’s career, goes over to join them. Eddie, insecure and angry, sees her talking with the men and starts a jealous quarrel. Rita walks out, promising Owens she’ll visit his office the next day to discuss a part in his upcoming revue.
Eddie quickly replaces Rita with Cleo, who uses her charm to manipulate him. Soon, Variety prints news of their engagement. Riding the momentum of the act’s earlier success with Rita, Eddie and Cleo get booked on the big-time circuit. Meanwhile, Rita signs with Owens and is cast in a major featured role.
Despite their separation, Eddie and Rita still carry feelings for one another. They bump into each other on the street one day, and it’s clear the affection remains. The day before her revue opening, Kitty Mayo visits Rita and tells her Eddie and Cleo are opening that same night—and are sure to flop. Rita insists on going to help Eddie one last time.
At the theatre, Rita finds Eddie in his dressing room and runs through parts of their old routine, hoping to help him remember the best steps. Eddie calls in Cleo and asks her to let Rita demonstrate. But Cleo lashes out in a jealous tirade, berating Rita, Eddie, and Kitty. In a fit of rage, she tears off her costume and storms out, thinking she has sabotaged the show.
Instead, Rita dons the costume and steps in to perform with Eddie. Their act is a triumph. Watching from the wings, Owens tells Rita he won’t hold her to the revue contract—he loves her and wants her to be happy, knowing she belongs with Eddie.
After the show, Eddie is thrilled by the act’s success and Rita’s return—but true to form, he hides his feelings behind bravado. As they exit the stage, he loudly boasts, “I knocked ’em dead!” to those in the wings. Rita, understanding the boy beneath the bluster, smiles. She loves him just the same.
