The Big Broadcast

Bing Crosby's chronic tardiness and his looming marriage to Mona Lowe create friction at the WADX radio station. A tense talk with manager George Burns hints at dismissal and possible legal trouble. He leaves the studio determined to clear his head, setting the stage for a night that will change everything.

Crosby encounters Leslie, a miserable Texas oilman who has been betrayed in love. Crosby consoles him, and the two realize their misfortunes mirror each other. They acknowledge they have both been wronged by the women in their lives.

That night, Crosby invites Leslie to his apartment where the electricity fails and both men, drunk, entertain a gas-poisoning suicide plan. They sit side by side in the kitchen, haunted by the thought of death as the world seems to collapse around them. A sudden interruption saves them before they reach the point of no return.

As they near death, a skull and an accordion-playing ghost appear and sing the song 'Here Lies Love,' intensifying the surreal moment. The strange haunting breaks when a doorman and Anita arrive to rescue the men from themselves. The near-tragedy binds Crosby and Leslie in a shared, bizarre experience.

The next morning Crosby and Leslie wake up alive and astonished. Anita reveals she has fallen in love with Crosby, and Crosby invites Leslie to join them at WADX, promising him a job. The trio begins to chart a future together at the station.

George Burns' leadership falters amid Gracie Allen's hijinks and mounting station debt. The station loses its grip on reality as repo men begin to remove furniture and carry out a desk, signaling an impending closure. The crisis threatens Crosby's career and everyone around him.

Leslie reveals he still has $900,000 and uses it to buy the radio station, aiming to protect Crosby and Anita and keep the show alive. The plan to rescue WADX injects new hope into the group. Leslie's generosity redefines the stakes for everyone.

Leslie pitches a 'big broadcast' featuring stars to pull the station from debt, rallying Crosby, Anita, and the rest of the team. The idea re-energizes the crew as they prepare for a hopeful revival of WADX. The plan hinges on an on-air triumph that could save them all.

Mona Lowe returns and reinstates the wedding, pulling Crosby away from his budding romance with Anita. Crosby pretends to be eager to join Mona for the evening, threatening to derail the big broadcast. The emotional tug-of-war tests everyone's loyalty.

Desperately, Leslie tries to simulate Crosby's live performance by finding a record and spinning it on the air. His comic misadventures around town culminate in the record shattering on the sidewalk, leaving the on-air moment uncertain. The audience wonders if Crosby will appear.

As the melted record yields a broken moment, Anita realizes the voice on the air is Leslie, not Crosby. Her surprised reaction signals that the plan might still work and rekindles her connection with Leslie. The broadcast's sound betrays Crosby's absence and Leslie's presence.

Just in time for the second verse, Crosby returns and improvises lyrics to send a message to Anita to take Leslie back as her fiancé. His on-air appearance confirms his role in orchestrating the reunion. Mona watches from the booth, bristling with mixed emotions.

The big broadcast culminates in Crosby performing and delivering the reunion of the lovers. Anita accepts, Leslie supports, and Crosby's bravado gives way to genuine affection. Mona's disapproval remains, but the show ends with the new romantic arrangement intact.