影片主线讲述了19世纪一户普通家庭来到芝加哥并奋斗的故事，影片后半一头母牛碰倒了提灯点燃了大火，展现了惊人的火灾场景。

故事发生于一九四二年春天，紧接着从菲律宾回来的道格拉斯·麦克阿瑟将军和他的队伍被封锁在奔赴澳大利亚的途中，一艘被炸沉了太平洋战舰上活下来的人奋力挣扎游到了岸边。船长告诉他们，如果他们能够找到自己的方式达到两百公里之外的德尔蒙特，他们就拥有最高等级的优先权通过封锁。船长建议他们兵分几路，以保证安全。屈克·帕尔玛和机务员吉米·米歇尔最后终于抵达了泪提岛上的塔科班机场。在一所美国军事学校里，帕尔玛遇到了珍妮·马丁兹，她正着急地要去找到一位掌管人事的官员，要求上前线去帮助一位亲戚…

In Paris, young American Power is in debt to nightclub owner Menjou who forces him to woo heiress Young in hopes of reaping her fortune.

Roger Grant, a classical violinist, disappoints his family and teacher when he organizes a jazz band, but he and the band become successful. Roger falls in love with his singer Stella, but his reluctance to lose her leads him to thwart her efforts to become a solo star. When the World War separates them in 1917, Stella marries Roger's best friend Charlie. Roger comes home after the war and an important concert at Carnegie Hall brings the corners of the romantic triangle together.