Step Lively 1944

Gordon Miller, George Murphy, a theatrical producer, is chronically short of cash as his company and crew live on credit at a posh Broadway hotel, sustained by the indulgence of the hotel manager, Joe Gribble, Walter Slezak, Miller’s brother-in-law.

Glenn Russell, Frank Sinatra, a visiting playwright, arrives from out of town expecting royalties and quickly agrees to invest in the faltering production after demonstrating a remarkable singing voice that soon earns him a central, leading role.

Simon Jenkins, Eugene Pallette, a businessman representing a backer who wants his name kept secret, arranges that his protégé Miss Abbott, Anne Jeffreys, becomes the singing star, helping to shape the show’s future.

Jenkins grows suspicious of the hectic activity surrounding Miller and stops payment on the backer’s check.

Wagner, Adolphe Menjou, an auditor for the hotel, arrives to investigate the faltering finances and quickly uncovers the freeloading that keeps the troupe living well beyond their means.

To forestall eviction, Miller has Russell pretend to be deathly ill, creating a quarantine situation that keeps the company housed at the hotel while the show takes shape.

Miller also tells Wagner that the backer is funding the show, but withholds the fact that the check has been stopped, leaving Wagner to believe Miller is solvent and turning him into an unwitting sponsor.

Russell, still playing the illness, must perform a death scene in front of Wagner, and Miller frantically tries to slip Russell’s ‘body’ out of the hotel to avoid a public scandal.

As the plan unfolds, the show goes on and grows into a big success, with Miller finally achieving his goal and Wagner satisfied with the outcome.