Melody And Moonlight (1940)

Stars:

Johnny Downs, Barbara Jo Allen, Jerry Colonna

Kay Barnett, known as Public Debutante #1, is reprimanded by her snobby tycoon father Otis and her stuffy fiancé, Standish Prescott, when she fulfills her desire to be a performer by singing at the Kaula Club. Otis admonishes Standish to keep Kay out of such establishments, but after he leaves, Kay and her free-spirited aunt Adelaide convince Standish to take them to the Glass Slipper Dance Hall. There Kay is mistaken for a hostess by Danny O'Brien, an aspiring hoofer who uses her as his partner in the dance derby. They win second prize and then brawl with the first-place winners. Kay and Adelaide return home in disgrace and are chastised by Barnett. Kay refuses to accept her father's demand that she settle down and runs away to a fancy hotel, where she checks in under a false name. The next day, the hotel manager demands that she settle her account, and Danny, who works there as a bellboy, helps her escape after discovering that she does not have any money. He pays her bill and quits his job, then goes home, where Kay is helping his little sister Ginger cook dinner. The O'Briens offer to let Kay stay with them, and Danny and Kay quickly fall in love. Kay and Danny vow to find jobs in show business, and Kay, inspired by Danny's charisma and patience in teaching her new dance steps, suggests that he teach dancing on the radio. They call their would-be show "Professor Danny O'Brien's Dancing School of the Air" and begin looking for sponsors. Their search proves fruitless, however, until they convince Adelaide's suitor, Abner Kellogg, who owns a chain of chiropody stores, to sponsor the show. After the youngsters have made all the plans, Otis hears about the show and threatens Abner, whose store mortgages are held by his trust company, with foreclosure unless he cancels the show. Abner reluctantly does so, and even Standish is dismayed by Otis' dirty trick. Danny discovers that Otis is behind the cancellation and confronts the millionaire. Danny is shocked to learn that not only is Kay Otis' daughter, but that she is engaged to Standish. Disillusioned, Danny returns home, where he tells Ginger that Kay was merely slumming and using them to spice up her life. Unaware of this development, Kay returns to their apartment with the good news that, thanks to help from Standish, she has secured Butch Reilly, owner of the Glass Slipper, as their new sponsor. She is shocked when the O'Briens bitterly denounce her, and she leaves in tears. Later, Danny practices with his new partner Gloria, but Gloria's ineptness inspires Ginger to go to the Barnett home and plead with Kay to reconcile with Danny. Ginger's speech rouses Otis, who insists that Kay fulfill her commitment. The trio races to the dance hall, where Adelaide begins the show by announcing Danny. Kay steps onto the stage in place of Gloria and is welcomed by an overjoyed Danny. The couple put on a fantastic show, which assures their success, and win Barnett's blessing when Danny announces that Kay will soon become Mrs. Danny O'Brien.