An out-of-work movie director turns a carnival girl into a French heiress to make her a star.
Motion picture director John Gayle is a difficult perfectionist. In an effort to get him to relax, Louisa, his sister, takes him to a carnival, where he is impressed by the versatility of Mary O'Leary, a singer and dancer. After his demands drive Yvonne La Tour, the star of his current movie, to quit, John is fired. He then conceives a plan to have Mary pretend to be French and take Yvonne's place, figuring that if he can save the movie, he will get his directing job back. Over Louisa's objections, Mary is installed in the Gayle home, and John works hard to teach her what she needs to know. As they work together, Mary falls in love with John, but soon realizes that to him, she is just a means to an end. Shortly after John informs Mary that she is ready to be introduced as "Rochelle Olivier," his "friend from France," Mary goes for a swim and meets the film's producer, Douglas Hyde, as her real self. Realizing what has happened, Louisa and John quickly hustle Doug away, and Louisa points out that as Mary was in a bathing suit, her shapely figure probably distracted Doug so much that he did not pay close attention to her face. Upon meeting Mary as "Rochelle," Doug immediately agrees to star her in the film, but she refuses to sign the contract unless John is re-hired to direct. As filming progresses, Doug romances Mary. One night, when Doug takes Mary to a charity ball, a jealous John joins them, and he and Mary quarrel. During the quarrel, Mary inadvertently reveals her true identity, to the delight of eavesdropping reporters. Doug believes that he will be fired, but his boss is delighted by the free publicity. John, however, is fired for fraud. Believing that she will be fired as well, Mary packs to leave, but Doug reveals that he knew about the deception from the start and wants her to continue with the film. After a new director is hired, however, a lovesick Mary's performance suffers. Then Louisa helps John realize that he is in love with Mary, and Doug ascertains that Louisa is in love with him. John is rehired and everything points to a happy ending for the two couples.
