Musical bio of tragic Jazz Age torch singer Helen Morgan (Blyth) from her carnival days to Broadway stardom. She's constantly loving and getting left by bootlegger Larry Maddox (Newman), a charismatic louse. Then Helen gets involved with married lawyer Russell Wade (Carlson). Booze eventually is the downfall to her career. Most of the plot is fictional anyway with a prerequisite upbeat ending tacked on. Gogi Grant dubbed Blyth's singing.