High Flyers

Jerry Lane and Pierre Potkin are midway carnival ride pilots who have never flown a real aircraft. They quit their carnival gig when smuggler Dave Hanlon hires them to fly a real seaplane and retrieve a lifesaver thrown from an ocean liner. They expect the cargo to contain news photos, but the mission drags them into a dangerous smuggling operation.

The pair take off in the seaplane and head toward the ocean liner to recover the lifesaver. When they open the floating aid, cocaine blows into their faces and a box of stolen jewels spills out. Realizing the cargo is not what they were led to expect, they find themselves drawn into the intoxication and confusion of the haul.

The seaplane crash-lands on the grounds of Horace and Martha Arlington's estate. Jerry and Pierre survive the wreck but are stranded at the mansion, unsure of who they can trust. The unexpected arrival of two strangers unsettles the household.

The Arlingtons mistake the pair for police officers and offer hospitality while they assess the situation. The duo is allowed to stay in the mansion, and a tense, comic air settles over the estate. Yet the danger from Hanlon lurks just below the surface.

In a string of musical numbers, Jerry and Pierre charm Arlene, the Arlingtons' daughter, and their maid Juanita. The lively performances contrast with the looming threat of the criminals’ plan. The flirtation escalates the chaos and masks the men’s true intentions.

Hanlon manipulates the Arlingtons, convincing them that Jerry and Pierre are lunatics from an asylum. He uses the ruse to turn the family against the duo and to position himself to seize the supposed smuggled cargo. The tension inside the mansion grows as the plan tightens.

To remove the 'lunatics', Hanlon's cronies disguised as doctors arrive at the mansion. They reveal a murderous intent and attempt to abduct Jerry and Pierre to claim the jewels. The guests and staff evaporate into a frenzied scramble.

A frantic search around the manor reveals that dozens of items have gone missing because the Arlingtons’ kleptomaniac dog has hidden the jewels. The caper spirals into a chaotic hunt that brings in many cops and criminals alike. The true stash remains elusive as the mansion fills with suspicion.

The criminals are finally captured after a chaotic chase and a web of mistaken identities. Horace and the others help coordinate the arrest while the police keep order. Jerry and Pierre narrowly avoid being swept up in the fray.

Horace examines the recovered jewels and confirms they are paste. A note tucked inside the box reveals that the man carrying them had switched the jewels at the last moment to thwart a crime, and the real jewels were sent to Arlington's office. The revelation clears up the mystery surrounding the loot.

With the misdirection exposed, the mansion returns to relative calm. Jerry and Pierre are cleared of suspicions, and Hanlon’s operation lies in ruin as the real culprits are brought to justice. The Arlingtons’ home remains intact, though forever touched by the strange events.

The duo leaves the estate with a new sense of caution about smuggling schemes and the thrills of quick luck. Their credit as improvised pilots remains intact, and their unlikely romance with adventure persists. The adventure closes with them ready for the next misadventure.