Hit the Deck

Two sailors hatch a plan to bake a birthday cake to impress the commander. They poke holes in a rival sailor's cake, fill the holes with rum, and disguise the dessert with candles and icing. The prank initially pleases the commander, but the cake bursts into flames when he blows out the candles, and the trio is sent to 'Operation Mud Pie' in a snake-infested swamp.

During a two-day shore leave in San Francisco, Bill visits Ginger at the nightclub, and she reveals she has found someone else, breaking off the engagement. Rico visits his widowed mother, who is entertaining her florist boyfriend, Mr. Peroni, adding to the romantic tensions among the group. The men cope with mixed signals as the leave unfolds.

Peroni, who had been led to believe Rico was nine years old, now looks at Mrs. Ferrari with new eyes, triggering a quarrel between them. The misunderstanding ignites a shifting dynamic among the couples on leave. Meanwhile new attractions begin to form as the men observe the women’s lives in San Francisco.

Danny returns to his home and reunites with his Rear Admiral father, Daniel Xavier Smith. His sister Susan reveals she is dating actor Wendell Craig, hinting at a potential jiggle of public attention and danger around her budding romance. The family dynamics set the stage for further complications.

Danny goes to the theater where Wendell's show Hit the Deck is rehearsing and is immediately attracted to dancer Carol Pace. Carol warns him about Wendell’s reputation as a womanizer, raising concerns for Susan’s safety. Danny's interest in Carol deepens the personal stakes for the upcoming performances.

Bill returns to the nightclub and questions Ginger with jealousy about her new boyfriend, while the tension between the sailors and Wendell escalates. At Wendell's hotel suite, Susan sings for him, and he begins to make a move. Danny and his friends intervene, and Rico escorts Susan home, during which Rico begins to fall for her.

Shore patrol questions Ginger at the nightclub, but she withholds information about the sailors' whereabouts. The sailors and their friends retreat to Mrs. Ferrari's apartment and then hide in Peroni's flower shop to avoid detection. The tension intensifies as the net tightens around them.

To provoke jealousy, Rico has Bill pretend to be Mrs. Ferrari's new suitor and send her roses. Peroni personally delivers the flowers and, in a twist of romance, asks Mrs. Ferrari to marry him, which she happily accepts. The plan shifts relationships in unexpected ways.

Bill calls on Ginger and finally proposes, sealing their rekindled relationship. The engagement adds another layer of complication to the intertwined romantic entanglements. The couples brace for the upcoming premiere of Hit the Deck.

That evening, Wendell tries to cover his bruises with makeup as Susan arrives to intervene. He agrees to withdraw the charges if the sailors apologize in person, offering a path toward reconciliation. The threat of legal consequences begins to recede as negotiations take shape.

Susan brings the sailors to Wendell's dressing room, but the shore patrol is waiting on the other side of the curtain. The sailors flee by blending in with the chorus members as they move toward the stage. The audience, including the admiral, watches the tension unfold with growing bewilderment.

A melee erupts as the sailors are confronted by the authorities. The admiral and his aide Lt. Jackson watch from the audience in astonishment. When the dust settles, the admiral learns that the woman at the center of the trouble is Susan, clarifying the miscommunications.

Mrs. Ferrari, Carol, and Ginger barge in to tell Jackson the entire sequence of events. The admiral returns home and confronts Susan, who explains her side and the family’s concerns about Rico. Jackson discreetly reveals that Wendell withdrew the charges to protect his wife’s reputation, clearing the air for everyone involved.

With misunderstandings resolved, the three sailors are happily united with their respective loves. The group celebrates the reconciliation and looks forward to their futures together. The story closes on a note of romance and camaraderie among the crew.