What Is Nice Girl? About?
The premise of Nice Girl? in 287 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a sun‑drenched Midwestern town where music drifts from open windows and gossip spreads faster than the post, Jane ‘Pinky’ Dana has earned a reputation as the sweet‑natured “nice girl” of the bustling Dana household. Her world revolves around family gatherings, piano duets, and the steady rhythm of daily life under the watchful eye of her scholarly father, Oliver Dana, whose experiments and lecture‑notes fill the study as much as laughter fills the kitchen. The three sisters—Sylvia, the aspiring actress, and Nancy, the flirtatious youngest—add their own bright notes to the household’s lively chorus, creating a setting that feels both intimate and theatrical.
Jane’s quiet affection for Don Webb, a charismatic young man whose passion lies in tinkering with a hand‑built car, is a silent undercurrent to her otherwise orderly existence. His preoccupation with engines leaves little room for romance, prompting Jane to wonder whether the “nice girl” label is a comfortable cage. The arrival of Richard Calvert, an associate of her father’s sent to study a peculiar scholarly pursuit, throws the family’s routine into a spirited swirl. His presence sparks curiosity and subtle competition, offering Jane a glimpse of a more daring path that could reshape her identity and the neighborhood’s perception of her.
Against a backdrop of Fourth of July celebrations, impromptu performances, and the gentle hum of patriotic songs, the film balances lighthearted comedy with a warm, musical atmosphere. The tone stays breezy and hopeful, inviting viewers to watch Jane navigate the delicate dance between family expectations, personal desire, and the tantalizing promise of stepping beyond her well‑known reputation. In this charming world, every conversation, glance, and melody hints at the possibilities that await when a “nice girl” decides to rewrite her own story.
What Happens in Nice Girl??
The complete story of Nice Girl?, from the first scene to the last, in 577 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 8 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
The busybody postman Hector Titus winds his way through the Dana household, delivering mail and, more than once, catching the affection he hides for Cora Foster, the loyal maid who has captured his heart. At the head of the home is Oliver Dana, a patient professor who juggles family life with a book project about diet that he tests on rabbits. The Dana sisters fill the house with energy: Sylvia Dana is the eldest and a rising actress, Jane ‘Pinky’ Dana is the middle sister who wants to shed her “nice girl” image, and Nancy Dana is the youngest, a flirt who sets the social gears in motion. Rounding out the circle is Jane’s boyfriend, a car enthusiast named Don Webb.
When Richard Calvert arrives to study Dana’s rabbit experiments, the three sisters fall hard for him, instantly competing for his attention. The family comes together as Jane sits at the piano and performances fill the room; the moment is underscored by a gentle ensemble with [Oliver Dana] on the keys, and the others lending their voices. Jane’s voice introduces the song Beneath the Lights of Home, a moment that showcases the warmth and charm of the household, while the rabbit-filled setting foreshadows the blend of satire and sentiment that threads through the story. The mood lightens into a Fourth of July celebration, where Oliver delivers a spirited speech, and after a bit of dancing, Jane performs Old Folks at Home, a moment that cements the family’s affection and the town’s attention on their goings-on.
The plot takes a cheeky turn when Don lends Jane his car to escort Richard to the train station, but she decides to press her luck and drives him to New York. While there, she changes into clothes that belong to Richard’s sister and sits at a piano to perform Love at Last. Richard discovers that she is not simply playing the “nice girl” game; the moment is more about flirtation and intention than about genuine change, and she returns home wearing Richard’s sister’s pajamas. The trip leaves the town buzzing with rumors, and Jane, overwhelmed, locks herself in her room until a telegram arrives from Richard, offering a glimmer of hope and confusion in equal measure.
To face the consequences, Jane heads to a benefit for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. On stage, she performs Beneath the Lights of Home again, while the crowd offers congratulatory remarks that she initially mistakes as insincere, thinking that everyone assumes she and Richard are engaged. Don, ever steadfast, reassures her that the romance isn’t a joke, and the two share a quiet kiss offstage, leaving the rest of the world to gossip in the background. The program culminates with Jane stepping out onto a bandstand to sing Thank You America for the soldiers gathered at the Army base, a moment that blends patriotism with the movie’s lighthearted romance.
As the play within the film progresses, Don’s enlistment adds a note of earnestness to the comedy, while Oliver’s confusion about the supposed engagement slowly fades as the truth about the social rumors is teased out. The family remains a cohesive unit, balancing humor, music, and affection, and leaving the door open for misadventure and reconciliation in equal measure. The film ends on a note of celebration and uplift, with the Dana household continuing to navigate the delicate dance of love, reputation, and performance in a world where songs and schemes frequently intertwine.
Nice Girl? Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Hector the busybody postman falls for Cora” to “Jane performs Thank You America at the Army base”. 13 events name a place, across 7 locations.
- 1
Hector the busybody postman falls for Cora
The busybody postman Hector delivers mail to the Dana household and to Cora, the maid he loves. He is known for reading other people's mail, which gives him a window into the Danas' daily life. His unrequited affection quietly frames the family dynamics as the plot begins.
Where:Dana household
- 2
Richard Calvert visits and the sisters swoon
Richard Calvert visits the Danas to study Professor Dana's rabbit experiments. The three daughters are instantly enamored with him, each trying to impress him. Jane even enters singing to the rabbits, while the father continues his diet experiments.
Where:Dana household
- 3
Fourth of July celebration and family performance
During a Fourth of July celebration, the Danas come together with the town for a festive gathering. Oliver Dana gives a patriotic speech to the crowd. The family performs together, with Jane singing while the others accompany on piano.
Where:Town Fourth of July celebration
- 4
Jane drives Richard to New York and reveals her game
Don lends Jane his car to take Richard to the train station, but she decides to drive to New York instead. In New York, she changes into Richard's sister's clothes and plays a song on the piano, while Richard realizes she is not truly becoming a different person, just playing a game. On the way back, the car runs out of gas and Jane returns to town in a panic, waking up the neighborhood and fueling rumors.
Where:New York and back to town
- 5
Rumors and isolation follow the trip
Rumors swirl about Jane's behavior and engagement, and she bolts herself in her room to escape the gossip. A telegram from Richard arrives for her father, keeping the thread of their relationship in the air. The family turmoil deepens as the truth feels elusive.
Where:Dana household
- 6
Jane attends the Red Cross benefit and is mistaken as engaged
Jane attends a benefit for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and performs a heartfelt number. The audience congratulates her as if she and Richard are engaged, an assumption she does not yet understand. Don tries to comfort her, insisting the engagement talk is nonsense.
Where:Benefit event
- 7
Don dismisses the engagement as nonsense
Don tells Jane that the supposed engagement is nonsense and that Richard wouldn't pursue her. His casual reassurance clashes with Jane's confusion and growing frustration. The tension between honesty and rumor further fragments their perspectives.
Where:Benefit event
- 8
Jane proclaims her engagement to Don, he storms off
Feeling cornered by the rumors, Jane declares to Don that she is actually engaged to Richard. Don storms off in anger, leaving Jane to grapple with the consequences of the revelation. The moment marks a pivotal fracture in their relationships.
Where:Benefit event
- 9
Richard and Oliver misinterpret the celebration
Oliver and Richard arrive at the benefit and congratulate Professor Dana, but he is confused, thinking they are congratulating him for a fellowship rather than his daughter's engagement. The scene underscores the miscommunication driving the romantic misunderstandings.
Where:Benefit event
- 10
Jane and Richard stage a fake quarrel to end the engagement
Jane intercepts Richard's arrival and tells him that everyone believes they are engaged. They pretend to have a big quarrel in front of the crowd so they can break the supposed engagement and restore the status quo. The act resolves the immediate social pressure with a dramatic display.
Where:Benefit event
Show the other 3 events of Nice Girl? Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Don enlists in the army
Don has enlisted in the army, marking a new turn in the love triangle and the family’s concerns for safety and duty. Jane travels to see him and explain what happened, seeking some resolution amid uncertainty. The move intensifies the emotional stakes for both of them.
Where:Army recruitment setting
- 12
Don and Jane share a silent kiss of understanding
Don tells Jane that his feelings are real and they share a kiss off-screen, signaling a quiet, unresolved romance beneath the social upheaval. The moment shifts their relationship toward a private, unspoken connection.
Where:Unknown location with Don
- 13
Jane performs Thank You America at the Army base
Jane goes to a bandstand at the Army base and sings the song Thank You America for the crowd. Her performance serves as a patriotic close to the story and marks a personal moment of grace amid the drama. The audience responds with warmth, tying the loose ends of the narrative together.
Where:Army base bandstand
Who Are the Main Characters in Nice Girl??
7 characters, among them Jane 'Pinky' Dana (Deanna Durbin), Don Webb (Robert Stack) and Oliver Dana (Robert Benchley): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- J'
Jane 'Pinky' Dana (Deanna Durbin)
Played by Deanna Durbin
The middle sister known as the 'nice girl,' Jane sings and cares for rabbits while navigating pressure to uphold a demure image. Her journey from constraint to self-assertion drives the central romance plot, culminating in a public display that exposes her true feelings. She is witty, musical, and curious about stepping beyond social conventions.
- 🎭 Drama
- 💃 Romance
- 🕊️ Social norms
- DW
Don Webb (Robert Stack)
Played by Robert Stack
Jane's boyfriend and a car enthusiast who enlists in the army, reflecting the era's call to service. He is affectionate but susceptible to insecurity when facing Jane's shifting loyalties and rumors. His feelings for Jane propel the triangle toward resolution as duty competes with romance.
- 💖 Romance
- 🪖 Wartime
- 🚗 Car culture
- OD
Oliver Dana (Robert Benchley)
Played by Robert Benchley
Professor Dana, the head of the household, is a disciplined, bookish father trying to finish a diet book tested on rabbits. He serves as a steady, slightly oblivious anchor, juggling family drama with scientific aspirations. His reactions to the romantic chaos reveal a warm, indulgent parental figure.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🧪 Science
- 👨👧 Family
- RC
Richard Calvert (Franchot Tone)
Played by Franchot Tone
The sophisticated visitor who captures the interest of Jane and her sisters. His presence triggers a performance of engagement that spirals into rumors and misreads. He represents charm and calculated social maneuvering within the story.
- 🎭 Drama
- 💘 Romance
- CF
Cora Foster (Helen Broderick)
Played by Helen Broderick
The Dana family's maid, beloved by Hector, who embodies quiet devotion and warmth. She provides emotional balance amid the chaos and represents steady, loyal affection in a playful, flirtatious environment.
- 💖 Romance
- 🏠 Domestic life
-
Hector Titus (Walter Brennan)
Played by Walter Brennan
The busybody postman who loves Cora and reads everybody's mail, adding humor and a touch of social gossip. His well-meaning meddling amplifies misunderstandings and unintentional consequences within the family circle.
- 😂 Comedy
- 🗣️ Gossip
- MP
Martha Peasley (Elisabeth Risdon)
Played by Elisabeth Risdon
The older sister's motherly presence and the supportive matriarchal figure within the Dana household. She anchors family dynamics with steady guidance amid romantic pratfalls.
- 🎭 Drama
- 👩👧 Family
Where and When Is Nice Girl? Set?
Nice Girl? is set in Dana household and New York (early 1940s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
early 1940s
Set during wartime, the story unfolds in a period marked by national service and mobilization. The Fourth of July celebration and the Red Cross benefit anchor the events in a home-front atmosphere, while Don’s enlistment places personal stakes in the ongoing conflict. The era’s music and showmanship frame the plot as a blend of romance and civic duty.
Where
Dana household, New York
Centered on the Dana household, the residence serves as a bustling, bookish home where a professor scientist and his daughters live with a lively maid. The house is a hub of song, letters, and neighborhood chatter, with the postman delivering mail and the rabbit diet experiments taking place nearby. Its warmth and chaos mirror the family’s foibles and the community’s gossip that drive the plot.
- 🏠 Domestic
- 🎭 Family comedy
What Are the Themes of Nice Girl??
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Romance, Identity and Patriotism.
-
01
Romance
Romantic entanglements drive the plot as Jane experiments with her persona, balancing affection with social expectations. The story highlights how love can complicate reputations and how characters manipulate appearances to win affection. The tension between sincerity and performed roles reveals inner desires.
-
02
Identity
The film plays with public persona versus private self, as characters adopt or shed roles (Jane as the 'nice girl') to influence others. Rumors and misunderstandings showcase how identity is sculpted by those around them. The comedic backdrop allows characters to explore authenticity amid social pressures.
-
03
Patriotism
Don and the family participate in wartime morale-building activities, including the Red Cross benefit and the Army base performance. The plot uses patriotic imagery and songs to frame personal decisions within a larger national context. The era's sense of duty influences relationships and choices.
What Kind of Film Is Nice Girl??
Light in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A charming and sentimental musical comedy that follows a wholesome family's lighthearted misadventures with romance and reputation, filled with warm performances and an uplifting, patriotic finale.
- wholesome
- charming
- musical
- sentimental
- flirtatious
- uplifting
- coming of age
- family life
- romantic rivalry
- reputation
Quiz
How well do you remember Nice Girl?? Test yourself on the story.
