The Robinson family spends their annual two-week vacation at the Stanley House Hotel, a charming Catskills resort that becomes a stage for growing pains and small-scale romance. Patti Robinson Jane Powell finds herself at the center of a tangle of crushes: Billy Finlay Carleton Carpenter is hopelessly drawn to her, but Patti thinks he’s too young; Melba Robinson Debbie Reynolds, Patti’s younger sister, is not immune to Billy’s charm, while their parents try to keep peace and propriety during the getaway. Horatio Robinson Louis Calhern and Katherine Robinson Ann Harding oversee the family’s dynamics with a mix of affection and old-fashioned restraint.
Valerie Stresemann Phyllis Kirk, a slightly older actress and Patti’s friend, enters the mix as she competes for the attention of Demi Armendez Ricardo Montalban, the handsome Cuban newcomer who has just arrived at the resort. The rivalry between Patti and Valerie, set against Valerie’s blunt advice about men and her constant reminder that Patti is still a child, adds a sharper edge to the holiday’s lighthearted amusements. Despite his wife’s objections, Mr. Robinson Louis Calhern purchases a corset for Patti, but he inadvertently selects a surgical corset with steel bone stays that lock when the wearer bends too far.
As the resort’s entertainment calendar unfolds, Valerie convinces the owner to pull Patti from a variety show. When Valerie cannot locate her own dancing shoes, Patti steps in to perform a dance with Demi Armendez Ricardo Montalban. The moment takes a dramatic turn: Patti’s corset locks mid-dance and she is carried off the stage. Mrs. Robinson quickly releases Patti from the restrictive garment and promises to buy her a proper corset the next day, hoping to restore safety and comfort.
With the crisis moment resolved, Demi Armendez Ricardo Montalban receives permission to date Patti when the family returns to the city, hinting at a romance that could weather the boundaries of age and expectation. The summer at the Stanley House thus becomes more than a vacation; it becomes a test of boundaries, family bonds, and the push-and-pull between youth and experience, all played out against a backdrop of glittering talent, competing affections, and the ever-present lure of the open road beyond the Catskills.
