L'athlète incomplet

[The following plot summary is based on the English-language version of this film, Local Boy Makes Good ; character names refer to that version.] Ohio University student John Miller is too involved with his botanical experiments to participate in college life. He is not too busy, however, to develop a crush on Julia Winters, a beautiful student at a rival college. He writes her love letters in which he pretends to be a great athlete and top fraternity man, but has no intention of sending them. By accident, the chambermaid picks up one of them and drops it in the mail. Meanwhile, student librarian Marjorie Blake starts work at the same bookstore where John is employed. As they are both shy, they strike up a friendship. When John receives a letter from Julia announcing her imminent arrival on campus, he begs Marjorie for advice. Even though she is in love with John, she counsels him to try and become what he has pretended to be. To this end, John shows up at the track to practice javelin. He is terrible and one of his wild throws almost hits a runner, who chases him off the track. To everyone's surprise, John outruns the fastest runner on the team as he escapes. The coach tries to call John back to the track, but thinking he will be punished, John does not turn back. Later, he contemplates suicide. When Julia arrives at the bookstore looking for John, Marjorie, who is an old school friend, pretends that John is someone else. Soon Julia, who is a psychology student, learns the truth. As she is scolding him, the coach appears and asks John to run in the track meet. When he refuses, Julia decides he has an inferiority complex and offers to psychoanalyze him. She finally convinces him to run in the same two races as her boyfriend, Spike Hoyt. Spike's threats frighten John so much that he loses the first race. He refuses to run in the relay until Marjorie fills him full of grain alcohol and gives him a kiss. He wins the race and by the next day, has undergone a complete personality change. Emboldened by his success, he asks Marjorie to marry him.