Dreamboat 1952

The respectable lives of Thornton Sayre, Clifton Webb and his daughter Carol Sayre, Anne Francis, are disrupted when it is revealed that Thornton was once the matinee idol Bruce Blair, who played El Toro (based on Zorro) and other romantic figures, and was widely known as the “Dreamboat.” His films are now being broadcast on a television show hosted by his former costar Gloria Marlowe, Ginger Rogers.

Carol’s classmates belittle her after the revelation, while her father insists he had a life in teaching before stepping in front of the camera. The college administration committee asks for his resignation, but president Mathilda Coffey, Elsa Lanchester, requests power to decide how to proceed. In private, she admits to Thornton that she had been one of his biggest fans, and she makes an unsuccessful pass at him.

Thornton and Carol hastily leave for New York to seek an injunction against the show. There they meet Sam Levitt, Fred Clark, the man responsible for airing the movies. While Sam and Gloria try to persuade Thornton to change his mind, Sam has Bill Ainslee show Carol the city, giving her a glimpse of the bustling urban life outside their small circle.

Thornton procures his injunction, but he is fired after spurning Coffey’s advances. Meanwhile, Bill and Carol have fallen in love and are planning to marry. When Gloria gloats over Thornton’s setbacks, he reveals that a major movie studio is interested in reviving his film career.

Months later, Bill and Carol attend Thornton’s premiere in Sitting Pretty— a real film that starred Clifton Webb. Gloria then reveals to Thornton that she has bought his contract and is now his boss.