The plot re volves around  Richard Bean ( Kline), a Br oadway star  known for his egoti sm, who ex periences a public break down an d retreats to h is home town. A fter returning  to the f amily-run theat er where he f irst dis covered his talent , he find s his father,  the former art istic directo r, suffe ring from de mentia. The th eater, n ow redu ced to a d inner th eater serv ing murder my steries, is run by his b rother (Tenney) and sister-in -law,  who is  also the to wn’s mayor . Determin ed to resto re the theat er’s form er glory, Ri chard plans  to stage a gre at American  classic,  with hims elf as dir ector and  star,  in an effor t to sa ve both the the ater and the town .！