Judy Bellaire (Judy Garland) is the center of trouble at her exclusive, very conservative private school. She is expelled when she starts singing in a jazzy style in her music class. Mayhem ensues as she returns home to her actress mother, playwright father and dysfunctional Russian maid (Fanny Brice) and tries out as a blackface singer in a musical.—BerindaBear

When boisterous Judy Bellaire (Judy Garland) encourages her fellow school chorus members to sing a classical piece with a modern swing beat, her scandalized teacher uses the musical mutiny as an excuse to expel her from the Colvin School for Girls. With the encouragement of Ricky Saboni (Allan Jones), her family's cook, Judy decides to follow her dream and audition for a stage musical. Meanwhile, Ricky struggles to gain the affections of Judy's sister, the lovely Sylvia (Lynne Carver).