Juke Box Rhythm

Princess Ann and her aunt, Countess Margaret, members of a European royal family, travel to New York to purchase a wardrobe for Ann's upcoming coronation. The stately Margaret thinks New York is unrefined compared to European cities, and so forbids Ann to go anywhere unless she is chaperoned. While sitting alone in her hotel room one night, Ann hears rock and roll music. Upon learning from the front desk that the music is emanating from a fraternity party being held on the fourth floor, Ann slips out of her room to watch the proceedings. Riff Manton, a member of the fraternity who is also performing at the party, sees her standing in the doorway and sweeps her onto the dance floor, causing the embarrassed Ann to run away. Later, in the hotel café, Riff meets his father George, a theatrical producer who is trying to raise money for a new show. George is separated from Riff's mother Martha, to whom he has been married for twenty-one years. This upsets Riff, who tells his father that he disapproves of him dating Leslie Anders, a wealthy divorcée. The next day, Balenko, a struggling fashion designer, tracks down Riff and asks him for an introduction to the princess. Unaware that his dancing partner was royalty, Riff is dismayed when Balenko shows him the front page of the daily paper featuring a picture of Riff and Ann on the dance floor. Riff, touched by Balenko's story of his humble roots as a junkman and his quest to become a fashion designer, and by Balenko's promise to give him a percentage of the commission, agrees to introduce Balenko to the princess. Meanwhile, at the hotel, Margaret is indignant over the photo of her niece dancing with a common American, but Truex, her country's ambassador to the United States, convinces her that the photo is good for public relations. Later, Margaret and Ann go to a chic salon owned by the designer Ambrose to view his designs. Riff, who has learned of the princess' appointment and has arranged to provide musical accompaniment for the fashion show, seizes the opportunity to apologize and invite her to a music recital at his college that night. Truex, asserting that the princess' appearance at an American college campus will generate good will, encourages Margaret to allow Ann to accept the invitation. Margaret insists on accompanying Ann, and as they all drive to the performance that night in a cab, Margaret removes her shoe to rub her foot. Unknown to her, Riff hides her shoe, forcing Margaret to return to the hotel for another pair of shoes. Ann and Riff continue on alone, and when the cab breaks down, they wait at a nightclub while the driver repairs the engine. At the club, Riff sees George and Leslie seated at a nearby table, and when entertainer George Jessel pulls Ann from the audience to join him in a song, Riff goes to his father's table and accuses Leslie of being a home wrecker. Taking umbrage at his accusation, Leslie states that she plans to help George finance his show. After Ann and Riff leave the club, Riff mentions Balenko and Ann agrees to view his collection in the morning. The next day, Margaret becomes suspicious of Balenko because his attic studio is located in a run-down area of town, but Ann falls in love with his fashions and orders twenty-six dresses. Riff then informs his father that Balenko has decided to invest the proceeds from the sale in George's new show. When Leslie learns that George no longer needs her money, she visits Balenko, and over a six-martini lunch learns that the designer will not be paid until the dresses are delivered. Determined to thwart the deal, Leslie calls Ambrose and tells him that Balenko is a junk dealer who paid Riff to show his collection to the princess. Ambrose passes the information along to Margaret, who insists on canceling the order. Although Riff tries to contact Ann to explain the situation, she refuses to accept his calls. At his mother's suggestion, Riff asks Truex to arrange a meeting between Balenko and Margaret. Balenko tries to win over Margaret by flattery and designing a beautiful dress for her, but she is immune to his charms. Frustrated, Riff corners Ann at the beauty shop and explains that he wanted to finance the show in the hope of restoring his father's confidence, thus enabling him to reconcile with Martha. Riff then goes to tell his father that the deal with Balenko has fallen through. Just as George is about to announce the show's cancellation to the cast, Balenko phones with the news that the princess has reinstated her order. George invites Martha to the show's opening night, which Ann attends with Riff, and Margaret with Balenko. As the curtain falls, the audience erupts in applause, and after Martha congratulates George on his success, he asks if he can return home. Soon after, as Ann and Margaret board their plane to fly home, Truex tells the forlorn Riff that Ann has invited him to her coronation.