An Italian acrobat's problematic theater contract evolves into a romantic and comic struggle that ends with emotional and contractual confusion resolved.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Unwanted Contract
Sterling engages Tina to become a New York City star. Her arrival in native costume makes him regret the agreement and ask Lawson for help.
Key Events
Tina Is Engaged — Sterling engages Tina to come to New York City as a star. Characters: Tina, SterlingLocation: New York City theater company
Sterling Makes The Offer — The theater-company member arranges Tina's professional move to New York City. Characters: Tina, SterlingLocation: New York City theater company
Tina Arrives — Tina arrives in New York City wearing her native costume. Characters: Tina, SterlingLocation: New York City
The Costume Surprise — Sterling sees Tina's native costume and reassesses his decision. Characters: Tina, SterlingLocation: New York City
Sterling Regrets The Deal — Sterling decides that he has picked a lemon. Characters: SterlingLocation: New York City theater company
Lawson Is Asked To Help — Sterling asks his partner Lawson to get him out of the contract. Characters: Sterling, LawsonLocation: New York City theater company
A New Career Arrangement
A press agent takes over Tina's contract after learning about Sterling's difficulty. The new arrangement brings Tina into contact with Al Wilkins.
Key Events
Lawson Is Asked To Help — Sterling asks his partner Lawson to get him out of the contract. Characters: Sterling, LawsonLocation: New York City theater company
The Contract Problem Spreads — The partners confront the practical problem created by Sterling's contract with Tina. Characters: Sterling, LawsonLocation: New York City theater company
A New Solution Appears — A press agent learns about the situation and offers to take over the contract. Characters: Sterling, LawsonLocation: New York City theater company
The Contract Changes Hands — The press agent agrees to assume responsibility for Tina's contract. Characters: Tina, SterlingLocation: New York City
Wilkins Is Selected — The new arrangement leads to Tina meeting Al Wilkins. Characters: Tina, Al WilkinsLocation: New York City
Tina Meets Wilkins — Tina meets Wilkins, a patent medicine manufacturer and motion picture magnet. Characters: Tina, Al WilkinsLocation: New York City
Competing Admirers
Tina is dressed up by a beauty specialist, and both Wilkins and Lawson seek her favor. Tina's love for Lawson creates an emotional imbalance beneath the social comedy.
Key Events
Tina Meets Wilkins — Tina meets Wilkins, a patent medicine manufacturer and motion picture magnet. Characters: Tina, Al WilkinsLocation: New York City
The Image Transformation — A beauty specialist dresses Tina up for her new presentation. Characters: TinaLocation: New York City
Wilkins Seeks Her Favor — Wilkins becomes eager to win Tina's favor. Characters: Tina, Al WilkinsLocation: New York City
Lawson Seeks Her Favor — Lawson also craves Tina's favor, intensifying the romantic competition. Characters: Tina, LawsonLocation: New York City
Tina's Love Is Revealed — Tina's actual romantic attachment is to Lawson. Characters: Tina, LawsonLocation: New York City
Lawson Receives A Note — Lawson receives a business note from another person. Characters: LawsonLocation: New York City
The Party Disruption
After Lawson receives a business note from another person, Tina interrupts his party. Her fight with Lawson's client nearly destroys the gathering.
Key Events
Lawson Receives A Note — Lawson receives a business note from another person. Characters: LawsonLocation: New York City
The Party Begins — Lawson's party becomes the setting for Tina's emotional reaction. Characters: LawsonLocation: Lawson's party
Tina Enters The Party — Tina jumps into the midst of Lawson's party. Characters: Tina, LawsonLocation: Lawson's party
The Party Fight — Tina nearly breaks up the party by fighting Lawson's client. Characters: Tina, LawsonLocation: Lawson's party
Wedding Bells
The contractual and romantic confusion is finally straightened out. The story closes with a twinkling of wedding bells.
Key Events
The Confusion Is Settled — The competing contractual and romantic complications are straightened out. Characters: Tina, Sterling, Al Wilkins, LawsonLocation: New York City
Wedding Bells Twinkle — The film ends with a twinkling of wedding bells. Characters: Tina, LawsonLocation: New York City
Story Breakdown
Tina's New Contract — Tina is recruited for a New York City theatrical opportunity.
Star Engagement — Sterling engages Tina to come to New York City as a star.
Unexpected Arrival — Tina arrives in her native costume, changing Sterling's view of the agreement.
Sterling's Regret — Sterling decides that the contract has produced an undesirable professional situation.
Picked A Lemon — Sterling realizes he has made a poor choice.
Lawson's Assistance — Sterling asks his theater-company partner Lawson to help end the contract.
Contract Transfer — A new arrangement offers a way to manage Tina's disputed theatrical contract.
Press Agent Intervention — A press agent learns about the problem and agrees to take over the contract.
New Introduction — The arrangement leads to Tina meeting Al Wilkins.
Tina's Transformation — Tina is presented differently after arriving in New York City.
Beauty Specialist — A beauty specialist dresses Tina up.
Public Presentation — The changed presentation supports her introduction to Wilkins.
Competing Admirers — Wilkins and Lawson both seek Tina's favor while Tina loves Lawson.
Wilkins's Desire — Wilkins craves Tina's favor after meeting her.
Lawson's Attraction — Lawson also craves Tina's favor.
Tina's Jealous Disruption — A business note and a party trigger Tina's most forceful reaction.
Business Note — Lawson receives a business note from another person.
Party Fight — Tina jumps into the party and fights Lawson's client.
Romantic Resolution — The tangled professional and romantic situation is straightened out.
Confusion Settled — The synopsis states that everything is eventually straightened out.
Wedding Bells — The film ends with a twinkling of wedding bells.
When theatrical agent Sterling, a ladies man known for signing his latest paramours onto his agency's talent roster, returns to New York from a trip to Europe, he tells his more down-to-earth partner, Lawson, that he has hired a beautiful Neopolitan acrobat he saw onstage in Italy. When the acrobat, Tina Bambinetti, arrives in their office, though, Sterling is shocked to find that, offstage, she is plain, unkempt and badly dressed. Crushed by Sterling's dismissive treatment, Tina performs some acrobatics that almost destroy the office...
