Al Roberts writes a gossip column for the Daily Express. He will write about anyone and everyone as long as he gets the credit. He gets into a little difficulty with a hood named Goebel who sends Frankie to talk to Alvin. But Al has the confession of Frankie on cylinders so Frankie becomes his own bodyguard and information line. One person Al is always taking digs at is crooner Bunny Harmon, because he hates crooners. When he writes a story about Dorothy's blessed event, he comes to regret destroying her life. But more importantly to Al and Frankie, her man may end 'Spilling the Dirt' permanently.—Tony Fontana <[email protected]>
Alvin Roberts (Lee Tracy) feuds with singer Bunny Harmon Dick Powell). Roberts reports on society people who are expecting a "blessed event," i.e. going to have a child. One such report antagonizes a gangster ("Sam" --- Edwin Maxwell) in a delicate situation, who sends over a henchman ("Frankie" --- Allen Jenkins) to threaten him. Roberts manages to turn the tables on the gangster.
While his boss is on vacation, reporter Alvin Roberts (Lee Tracy) has been writing a snappy gossip column featuring announcements of "blessed events," impending births of both the married and unmarried. Although the column is not very respectable, circulation jumps, so Alvin is assigned a regular position. Soon, he is so powerful that gangster Sam Goebel (Edwin Maxwell) sends his gunman, Frankie Wells (Allen Jenkins), to threaten him. Instead, Alvin tricks Frankie into confessing to murder and records it on his Dictaphone. He warns Frankie that if someone kills him, Frankie will be executed painfully. Alvin's nemesis, singer Bunny Harmon (Dick Powell), is opening a new nightclub and vows that Alvin will not be admitted, ever. Alvin, on the other hand, insists that he will be there no matter what. When singer Dorothy Lane (Isabel Jewell) begs Alvin, who has no scruples when it comes to his column, not to print the news that she is pregnant, he promises not to, but even though she is not married and will not name the baby's father, he runs the story, disregarding the harm it may do to her. Alvin is in love with Gladys Price (Mary Brian), another reporter on the paper, who despises his column. When Alvin discovers that Goebel is Dorothy's lover and threatens to expose him, Goebel decides he must be killed. Frankie warns Alvin that Goebel's men will be looking for him at Bunny's nightclub. Gladys begs him not to go, but Alvin sneaks in through the back. Although Goebel's men shoot at him, Alvin is not harmed. Dorothy, however, shoots and kills Goebel. Later Alvin agrees to give up his column for Gladys, using his last column to defend Dorothy and announce his engagement/elopement.
