One in a Million

The Grand Palace Hotel in Ardetz burns down, stranding Thaddeus Spencer, his wife Billie, a girls' band, The Ritz Brothers, and Borrah Minevitch in the Swiss Alps. The disaster interrupts their glamorous plans and creates a new opportunity when Spencer spots Greta Muller's skating talent. He imagines a skating ballet that could make him millions.

Spencer envisions a skating ballet with Greta that could yield him millions. He arranges a tryout at a St. Moritz casino, paying Greta 950 francs for the appearance. This plan anchors Greta's ascent into the world of professional show business.

American reporter Bob Harris arrives at the inn to probe rumors that the hotel fire was an attempt on a European premier. His photographer trails the bearded guest Ratoffsky as part of the mystery. Bob also courts Greta, who is wary after a band member's massage of her neck.

Greta's father, Heinrich Muller, a 1908 Olympic figure skating champion, has trained Greta for twelve years for the upcoming Olympics. He warns that the St. Moritz exhibition could jeopardize her amateur status. The family legacy adds pressure to Greta's decisions.

Bob follows the troupe to St. Moritz and stops Greta after her first number, warning that she risks Olympic eligibility. Greta is grateful for Bob's intervention as they ride back on a sleigh.

At the Winter Olympics, Greta captures first place in the figure skating event. The victory elevates her profile but complicates the question of professional status. The win confirms her as a potential star beyond Greta's hometown stage.

Greta refuses to turn professional and skate for Spencer in New York, prompting him to threaten to expose her St. Moritz performance to the ruling committee. The pressure underscores the tension between commercial interests and amateur rules. Greta faces a crucial choice.

Heinrich learns of the St. Moritz exhibition and returns Greta's medals himself, asserting control over her Olympic legacy. The gesture signals a protective stance toward Greta's amateur status and family pride.

Bob takes Spencer to meet Sir Frederick Brooks, the secretary of the Olympic committee, who had previously been vacationing incognito as Ratoffsky. The meeting centers on Greta's eligibility and the legitimacy of the St. Moritz showcase. The disguise twist reveals the committee's watchful eye.

Brooks declares Greta's amateur status proven, clearing her to continue skating without turning professional. The decision resolves the immediate dispute and sets the stage for a larger public showcase. Greta's future seems secured, at least for now.

With Greta cleared, the troupe positions Greta as the star for a major New York showcase. The transition from alpine spectacle to high-profile entertainment mirrors the collision of sport, show business, and celebrity. Money tensions linger, but Greta's star is rising.

The group performs in Madison Square Garden, crowning Greta's ascent to stardom. Spencer's scheme to monetize her talent comes to fruition as the ensemble celebrates the new arrangement. The film ends on Greta's success and the troupe's altered fortunes.