Tom Collier [Dennis Morgan] is a wealthy socialite who is bored by his father's aspirations for him and by his elitist crowd, except for old friend Pat Regan [Jack Carson], who serves as his loyal butler. His father, Thomas Rufus Collier II [Thurston Hall] disapproves of Tom's growing interest in Christie Sage [Ann Sheridan], a sharp-eyed commercial photographer who moves in a bohemian circle. The tension between privilege and a more free-spirited world sets the stage for a collision of worlds.
When Tom meets Christie Sage [Ann Sheridan] and Frankie Connors [Jane Wyman], he buys a failing liberal activist magazine to work with Christie, hoping to be near her and to unite art, journalism, and a cause he half believes in. He begins to drift into Christie’s vibrant, bohemian circle, even as his father’s stern disapproval grows louder. The pull of Christie’s world challenges the neat, predefined path Tom has been expected to follow, and the romance between ambition, art, and affection begins to blur the lines of Tom’s former life.
Christie eventually refuses Tom's proposal of marriage and leaves for Mexico to pursue her photography as a fine artist. In the wake of her departure, Tom makes a impulsive and troubled decision and marries Cecelia Henry [Alexis Smith], a gold-digging and manipulative woman who intends to mold him to her own wishes and gain control over his wealth and status. When Christie returns from Mexico, she realizes that she has made a mistake and that she loves Tom, but it is too late to turn back the clock.
Cecelia schemes to drive a wedge between Tom and Christie, from his old friend Pat, from his magazine work, and even, alarmingly, from his principles. She allies with Tom's father in an effort to steer him away from the truth and from the life he is beginning to understand he must lead. The conflict intensifies as Tom confronts a choice with real consequences: to publish an exposé on corrupt defense contractors that would threaten the reputations and interests of many of his wealthy peers. With Pat's steady support, Tom resolves to move forward with the story, signaling a decisive break with Cecelia and a recommitment to Christie—the woman he ultimately believes to be his true wife.
This drama unfolds against a backdrop of two intertwined worlds: the gleaming, privileged social scene Tom inhabits and the gritty, reform-minded current that Christie represents, forcing Tom to weigh personal happiness against public accountability. In the end, the film suggests that integrity and love may require upheaval, yet they offer a path to a more honest life beyond the gilded circle.
