Plot

This story about a production company trying to make a feature film, features a series of musical numbers presenting exuberant musicians, mostly from the all-woman jazz forties' band, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

This charming, early Hollywood musical featuring an all black cast, about a production company trying to make a feature film, is really a series of musical numbers presenting exuberant musicians, mostly from the all-woman jazz forties' band, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Starring a very young Ruby Dee in her first film role, it was made by a small independent black production company and was one of the first films to successfully counter its era's negative stereotypes of African Americans.—Anonymous

At his office at the Associated Motion Picture Studios, Lem Coles, a black film producer and the leading actor in his next film, engages his director, Sid Thomas, in an argument over who should play the feminine lead. While Sid wants Joan, Lem's fiance, to star, Lem insists that they find a new talent. Joan arrives at the office during the argument, and Lem tells her that she will not be getting the role she had hoped for. Angered by the news, Joan returns Lem's engagement ring and storms out of the office. Lem and Sid choose the beautiful Jenny to take the leading role, but they soon realize that although she has plenty of "experience," none of it involved acting. Desperate to begin rehearsals, Lem and Sid ignore Jenny's inability to act and keep her on. Hoping to capitalize on Jenny's "diamond-in-the-rough" appeal, Lem decides to change his leading lady's name to "Honey Diamond." Honey's initial appearances before the cameras prove disastrous, however. Upset that Honey ruined the love scenes by wriggling too much, and accusing the actress of being more sexy than romantic, Lem leaves the production. Sid and Joan then pull together to get Lem back to work on the film. When Lem admits that he has muddled things at the studio and apologizes to Joan for his behavior, she gives him another chance and accepts the role for which she was initially rejected. With Joan playing the romantic lead opposite Lem, the film is brought back to life and the love scenes become more believable. His love for Joan, both on and off the screen, restored, Lem carefully slips the engagement ring back on the actress' hand and looks forward to a happy future with her.