What Is The One and Only About?
The premise of The One and Only in 328 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a crisp 1951 Midwestern college town, Mary Crawford is a bright, eager student whose world tilts when she encounters the swaggering Andy Schmidt. He radiates confidence, and their whirlwind romance quickly turns into an impulsive marriage, a decision that feels both thrilling and unsettling for the young couple. Their youthful certainty sets the stage for a clash between the comfortable expectations of Mary’s home town and Andy’s relentless pursuit of something larger than life.
The newlyweds travel to Columbus, Ohio, to meet Mary’s strait‑laced parents—Mr. and Mrs. Crawford—where Andy’s flamboyant manner quickly makes the traditional family dinner feel like a performance. The tension that bubbles beneath the polite conversation hints at the broader disconnect between a conservative Midwestern upbringing and a restless ambition that refuses to be contained. This uneasy meeting underscores the film’s tone: observant, slightly satirical, and deeply attuned to the ways personal pride can strain intimate bonds.
Soon the pair uproot to New York City, where Andy clings to the belief that Broadway or Hollywood is just a heartbeat away. Mary, pragmatic and resilient, takes an office job to keep them afloat and soon discovers she’s expecting. While she anchors the relationship with steady responsibility, Andy’s frustration over a stalled career pushes him toward a surprisingly physical solution: professional wrestling. He crafts a flamboyant ring persona—“The Lover”—that mirrors his theatrical aspirations, offering a glimpse of the dazzling, yet precarious, world he hopes will finally grant him fame.
The film moves with a measured, contemplative rhythm, juxtaposing the hushed, familiar cadence of the Midwest with the bright, noisy promises of the city. It invites the audience to linger on the delicate balance between love, ambition, and the everyday realities that test both. As Andy reaches for the spotlight and Mary steadies the home they’ve built, the story remains a nuanced portrait of dreaming big while staying grounded, leaving viewers curious about how far their devotion can stretch when the lure of fame looms ever larger.
What Happens in The One and Only?
The complete story of The One and Only, from the first scene to the last, in 530 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Set in a midwestern college town in 1951, Mary Crawford, Kim Darby, is a bright if impressionable student who meets a supremely self-assured young man named Andy Schmidt, Henry Winkler. Mary is drawn to his confidence and daring, and, perhaps naively, agrees to marry him quickly before fame could slip away. The couple heads to Columbus, Ohio to meet her straitlaced parents, Mr. Crawford, William Daniels, and Mrs. Crawford, Polly Holliday. The visit quickly deteriorates as Andy hugs the parents, calls them “Tom and Mom,” and interrupts dinner to launch a string of impressions, turning a family meal into a public display and leaving everyone uneasy about the road ahead.
After their impulsive elopement, Mary and Andy move to New York City, where he remains convinced that Broadway or Hollywood is just around the corner and only a matter of time away. Half a year passes with no breakthrough, and yet his ego shows no sign of bruising. Mary takes an office job to keep them afloat, and she becomes pregnant, continuing to love her husband even as concern grows. Her parents bridge the distance with worry and, when money is tight, Mary must turn to them for support because Andy isn’t bringing in any income.
In the meantime, Andy forms a bond with Milton Miller, [Hervé Villechaize], a pint-sized actor with an outsized ego who tries to prove he’s a ladies’ man—an act even Mary’s mother is drawn into observing. Milton confesses that he sometimes wrestles to earn money, a tidbit that plants the seed for Andy’s next risky move. Encouraged by this new friendship, Andy tests a more physical path by entering professional wrestling. He improvises a ring persona, fashioning himself as “The Lover”—a flamboyant, showy character in the vein of a vaudeville star who captivates crowds with his bravado. Despite not having the traditional wrestler’s build, Andy throws himself into the role with relentless gusto, adopting look, manner, and swagger that enthrall a growing audience.
As the wrestling scene supplies a fresh stream of fans and excitement, the dynamic between Mary and Andy sharpens into a test of devotion against restless ambition. Mary, balancing the pull of family duty, pregnancy, and a steadfast love for Andy, watches as his pursuit of fame reshapes their life together. The story unfolds with a steady, observant tone that highlights the contrasts between a Midwest upbringing and the high-wwired hunger of a city that promises stardom, all while the couple negotiates money, pride, and the evolving lines of their relationship.
Across these events, the film sketches a portrait of ambition pressed against everyday reality—where the lure of fame can both propel and destabilize a partnership, and where personal charisma struggles to translate into lasting success. The colorful cast surrounding Mary and Andy—their well-meaning but cautious families, a few candid friends, and a circle that includes Milton Miller’s larger-than-life ambitions—serves to illuminate the central tension: can love endure when behind it all lies the constant chase for fame? The narrative remains balanced and contemplative, inviting the viewer to consider how far one might go to chase a dream and at what point that dream begins to redefine the people who chase it.
The One and Only Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Meeting at the Midwest college” to “Fate of fame vs. family”. 12 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Meeting at the Midwest college
Mary Crawford meets Andy Schmidt, a remarkably conceited young man who is convinced he will become a star. He pursues her with swagger and self-assurance, hinting at the celebrity life he craves. This first meeting foreshadows a romance built on ambition and vanity.
When:1951 Where:Midwestern college campus
- 2
Andy pressures for a quick marriage
Andy urges Mary to marry him quickly before fame makes him unavailable. He uses his charm to persuade her, masking underlying self-importance. Their decision leads them to travel to meet her parents.
When:1951 Where:Columbus, Ohio
- 3
Visit to Mary's parents
Mary and Andy visit her parents in Columbus, Ohio. Andy hugs the skeptical parents, calls them 'Tom and Mom', and interrupts dinner with impressions, ruining the visit. The clashing values of parents and fiancé become painfully clear.
When:1951 Where:Columbus, Ohio
- 4
Mary and Andy elope to New York
Mary and Andy elope and move to New York City. Andy remains convinced Broadway or Hollywood will beckon within weeks. Mary hopes for a better life, though uncertainty lingers.
When:1951 Where:New York City
- 5
Months pass without success; Mary starts working
Six months pass and Andy has achieved nothing while his ego stays intact. Mary takes an office job to support them and maintains her loyalty to Andy. The couple faces the reality of their precarious situation in the bustling city.
When:1952 Where:New York City
- 6
Mary becomes pregnant
Mary learns she is pregnant and remains loving toward Andy despite their financial strain. She still believes in him even as their prospects seem dimmer. The news deepens the stakes for their relationship.
When:1952 Where:New York City
- 7
Mary asks her parents for money
Mary's parents worry for their daughter and baby and she has to ask them for money because Andy is not earning. They morally wrestle with offering help while fearing the possible consequences. The request highlights the widening gap between Mary’s dreams and reality.
When:1952 Where:New York City
- 8
Andy befriends Milton Miller
Andy makes a friend, Milton Miller, a little person with a big ego. Milton is a struggling actor who tries to prove he is a ladies' man, even to Mary's mother. This friendship adds a different dynamic to Andy's world.
When:1952-1953 Where:New York City
- 9
Milton reveals he wrestles to make money
Milton confides that he occasionally wrestles to earn money. This revelation plants the seed for Andy to explore a new line of work. The idea of switching careers begins to form.
When:1953 Where:New York City
- 10
Andy becomes The Lover in professional wrestling
Acting experience sidelined, Andy tries professional wrestling as his new occupation. He creates a flamboyant persona called 'The Lover,' a Gorgeous George-type character who excites crowds. He dresses and performs to drive fans wild.
When:1953 Where:Wrestling venues in New York City
- 11
Rising fame and fanbase
Andy earns thousands of fans with his wrestling persona. The newfound popularity brings money and attention, validating his gambit despite the strain on their marriage. Mary watches the shift in her life as fame encroaches.
When:1953-1954 Where:Wrestling venues in New York City
- 12
Fate of fame vs. family
With fame growing, the couple must navigate how it affects their relationship and family plans. The dynamic between Mary's dream and Andy's ego continues to oscillate as they ride the wrestling wave. The summary ends with the couple riding the wave of popularity, leaving their future unclear.
When:Mid-1950s Where:New York City
Who Are the Main Characters in The One and Only?
5 characters, among them Mary Crawford (Kim Darby), Andy Schmidt (Henry Winkler) and Milton Miller (Hervé Villechaize): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- MC
Mary Crawford (Kim Darby)
Played by Kim Darby
A hopeful Midwest girl who marries an arrogant aspiring performer. She loves Andy but is torn between supporting him and facing financial strain, parental concerns, and her own future.
- 💖 Romantic
- 👪 Family-oriented
- 🕊️ Idealistic
-
Andy Schmidt (Henry Winkler)
Played by Henry Winkler
A remarkably conceited young man convinced of his talent and destined for fame. He marries quickly to secure a partner and chases Broadway or Hollywood, often ignoring consequences and those around him.
- 🔥 Ambitious
- 🧠 Self-deluded
- 💍 Impulsive
- MM
Milton Miller (Hervé Villechaize)
Played by Hervé Villechaize
A little person with a big ego who seeks validation as a ladies’ man and actor. He becomes a friend to Andy and an ally in his showbiz schemes, using wrestling as a vehicle for attention.
- 🎭 Entertainer
- 🧩 Eccentric
- 💪 Ambitious
- MC
Mrs. Crawford (Polly Holliday)
Played by Polly Holliday
Mary’s straitlaced mother, protective and practical. She worries about money and Mary’s future, often stepping in to guide or constrain her daughter’s choices.
- 👩👧 Family matriarch
- 💬 Protective
- 💸 Financially prudent
-
Mr. Crawford (William Daniels)
Played by William Daniels
Mary’s father, a stern, traditional presence who values steadiness and proper manners. He represents the midwestern moral center that contrasts with the couple’s reckless pursuit of fame.
- 👨 Patriarch
- 🗣️ Traditional values
- 💼 Saver
Where and When Is The One and Only Set?
The One and Only is set in Columbus, Ohio and New York City (1951). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1951
Set in 1951, the film captures the postwar American mood and early television/Broadway dreams. It follows a young couple navigating marriage, money, and ambition in a pre‑finger‑print era of showmanship. The period context underpins the norms and expectations around romance and success.
Where
Columbus, Ohio; New York City
The film moves from a midwestern college campus in Columbus, Ohio to the fast‑paced urban landscape of New York City. It also shows Mary’s family home as a backdrop for traditional values. The Midwest setting contrasts with the glamor and dreams of show business in the big city.
- 🏫 College town
- 🗽 Urban setting
- 🎭 Showbiz backdrop
What Are the Themes of The One and Only?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Ambition, Illusion and Family & Loyalty.
-
01
Ambition
Andy Schmidt embodies a relentless hunger for fame that drives his decisions and strains his relationship. His confidence masks insecurity, and his pursuit of stardom often overrides responsibility. The story pokes fun at showbiz ego while showing how ambition can fracture a marriage and family.
-
02
Illusion
Characters adopt performative personas—the Lover, Milton’s bravado, and various public facades—creating a gap between image and reality. Impressions, wrestling gimmicks, and stage dreams fuel longing and manipulation. The film suggests fame often rests on illusion as much as talent.
-
03
Family & Loyalty
Mary’s parents worry about money and her future as Andy pursues fame. The tension between love and responsibility tests loyalty within a new marriage. The family dynamic provides a counterpoint to the individualistic push for stardom.
What Kind of Film Is The One and Only?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A steady-paced, hopeful romantic comedy that follows an insufferable but determined young man's quirky journey from desperate failure to unlikely fame in the world of professional wrestling.
- flamboyant
- romantic
- desperate
- quirky
- hopeful
- energetic
- aspiring actor
- marriage
- struggling artist
- professional wrestling
Content notes: financial hardship.
Quiz
How well do you remember The One and Only? Test yourself on the story.
