Blue of the Night

Marian doesn't recognize Bing Crosby when she meets him on the train. Trying to impress and appear desirable to a stranger, she lies about being engaged to the famous singer. This lie immediately backfires when the news gets published and creates the misunderstanding that drives the rest of the plot.

Earlier on the train, Marian mentions it's the first night she hasn't heard Bing sing, hinting she's a fan who doesn't know what he looks like.

Bing Crosby himself put the news story in the newspaper. When he arrives at Marian's home later in the film, he reveals he is actually Jack Smith, a reporter, and that he planted the engagement story in the press as part of the misunderstanding.

After Marian confesses she lied to her friends about being engaged, she ends up in an embarrassing position with no way to explain the situation. Bing decides to help her by pretending to be Jack Smith, a reporter, so he can smooth things over without exposing her lie.

When Bing first meets Marian on the train, he doesn't immediately reveal who he is, setting up the deception that continues.

When Gilbert challenges Bing's identity and wagers his Cadillac car, Bing proves himself by singing his signature tune 'Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)' in front of Marian's friends and a police patrolman. The performance convinces everyone that he is indeed the famous singer.

Earlier on the train, Bing performed for Marian from the upper berth, showcasing his musical talent that becomes key to proving his identity.

Gilbert Sinclair is furious when he sees the newspaper report about Marian's engagement to Bing. He believed he and Marian were already essentially engaged, so when 'Jack Smith' shows up claiming to be Bing Crosby, Gilbert is convinced he's an imposter and wagers his Cadillac car that he can prove it.

Marian's friends tell her that Gilbert expected to marry her, establishing his possessive attitude before the wager.

After losing his bet that Bing was an imposter, Gilbert is left floundering in a swimming pool while Bing and Marian drive away together in the Cadillac. His attempt to expose Bing backfires completely, and he watches the couple depart while dealing with the humiliation of losing his car.

Gilbert's confident wager and his resistance to losing his automobile set up his comedic downfall in the pool.

Bing and Marian board the train at the same time and are mistakenly showered with confetti meant for another party. The passengers and train porter assume they are newlyweds, so they present them with a perambulator (baby carriage) and two baby dolls as a joke gift, playing on the newlywed assumption.

The confetti was intended for another celebration, creating the mistaken assumption from the start.

Since Bing's berth is directly above Marian's, he offers to play his portable radio for her. Instead, he simulates radio tuning noises and then sings 'Ev'ry Time My Heart Beats' while accompanying himself on guitar. This performance amuses Marian and deepens their connection without revealing his identity.

Marian's comment about it being the first night she hasn't heard Bing sing sets up his reveal that he has a radio.