It’s a Great Feeling

The film opens with a succession of real-life directors refusing to helm Mademoiselle Fifi. Frustrated, studio head Arthur Trent decides to let Jack Carson direct the project, shifting power toward the new director. This sets the stage for Carson to shape the film and its casting.

Judy Adams, a waitress with Hollywood dreams, sneaks into Carson's office and insists she deserves a chance. Carson agrees to give her an opportunity, recognizing a potential story and a fresh face. This marks the first concrete step toward Judy's big break.

Carson advises Judy to pretend to be his secret bride to win over Dennis Morgan. Judy goes along at first, but Morgan quickly sees through the ruse and feels used by the two actors. The deception damages the initial trust between Judy and the two men.

Judy becomes disillusioned with Hollywood's games and resolves to return to her hometown of Goerke's Corners, Wisconsin. Carson and Morgan both want to be the one to discover her, intensifying the competition between them. Judy's move hints at a potential turning point in her career.

Arriving at the station at the same time to stop Judy from leaving, Carson and Morgan run into Danny Kaye and press their case. They convince her that they will help her get a big break in films. The moment rekindles their involvement in Judy's pursuit of stardom.

In a fancy dress shop, Carson and Morgan begin dressing Judy as a film star and test her in different disguises. Joan Crawford criticizes their tactics, calling out the exploitation of Judy's potential. The transformation sequence underscores the pressure Judy faces to fit a Hollywood mold.

Carson dresses Judy as an elevator operator, a cab driver, and an oculist's assistant to catch Trent's eye. Yet Trent continues to see only a pretty face, not the talent behind the disguises. The ploy fails to win his lasting approval or confidence in Judy's abilities.

Judy explains the long hours and sacrifices she has endured to pursue acting, and she grows more determined to earn a real break. Carson and Morgan compete for her attention beyond professional interest, turning the pursuit into a personal rivalry. The dynamic adds emotional tension to the quest for Judy's career.

They arrange a screen test featuring Judy performing 'That Was a Big Fat Lie' under the direction of Ray Heindorf. Technical glitches and Trent's mounting nervousness culminate in a breakdown and the cancellation of the production. The setback pushes Judy to reassess her path.

Desperation leads to another disguise as a famous French star, Yvonne Amour, with an exaggerated accent and glamorous presence. Judy performs the number 'At the Cafe Rendezvous' for an audience including Eleanor Parker and Patricia Neal, but Trent still recognizes her through the ruse. The scene showcases the persistence of the pursuit and Judy's evolving performance under pressure.

Upset by the backstage games, Judy contemplates returning home to marry her long-time sweetheart. Grace intervenes, helping the decision-makers see that Judy might be happier in a simple town life rather than an uncertain Hollywood fate. The moment reframes Judy's desires beyond fame.

Judy overhears Carson and Morgan promising another girl a career, triggering doubt about her own prospects. On a train, Trent offers her a genuine opportunity, but Judy suspects deceit and rejects him. The moment crystallizes her guarded optimism about real chances.

Trent announces that Mademoiselle Fifi is back in production with Judy Adams as the lead, prompting Carson and Morgan to rush to Goerke's Corners with the news. They decide to step back, letting Judy choose a small-town life if she wishes. The twist resolves when Judy's fiancé turns out to be Errol Flynn, answering their curiosity about what she sees in him.