Plot

Pickpocket Libby gets support from street performer Charles, and her dancing leads to her invitation to theater patron Harley's party, which launches Libby's stage career while Charles keeps struggling in the streets.

On the sidewalks of the London theater district, the buskers (street performers) earn enough coins for a cheap room. Charles (Charles Laughton), who recites dramatic monologues, sees that young pickpocket Libby (Vivien Leigh) also has a talent for dancing and adds her to his act. Harley (Sir Rex Harrison), the theater patron who didn't know Libby took his gold cigarette case, is impressed by her dancing and invites her to bring Charles and the other buskers in his group to an after-the-play party. Libby comes alone. A theatrical career is launched.—Dale O'Connor <daleoc@interaccess.com>

Street performers, aka buskers, are an integral part of the fabric of London's West End. They have a captive audience in those waiting in line at cinemas or theaters, and are dependent upon their generosity for their livelihood. They are also in view of the legitimate performers, namely the actors, such as Jan Duchesi, rushing to and from the theaters at which they are in the cast of the latest hit play or musical. Approaching age 40, Charles Staggers is one of those buskers who has probably seen better days but has lost none of the enthusiasm for what he does. He has changed his act as his mood has suited him, and most recently having converted from being a ventriloquist to now reciting the classics, performing in cooperation with his friends Arthur Smith and Gentry, who are a musical duet. One evening, he has more than one altercation with a young woman. His negative view of her, late-teen Liberty (aka Libby), changes when he learns her situation: she is a homeless orphan, currently squatting in a house for rent, but probably most importantly, she can sing and dance. He is able to convince Libby, Arthur, and Gentry that they should put together a new act, which becomes a song-and-dance routine. Their act catches the attention of stage composer Harley Prentiss, who unknowingly was also robbed by Libby that same evening. In their quaint act, he sees one star: Libby. In Harley whisking her away, Libby, reverting back to Liberty as her stage name, is on her next step to stardom, seemingly putting Charles and the street life behind her. Can Charles in particular recover from this change--as he fell in love with her and wants to marry her?—Huggo

On the hustling sidewalks of London, a pair of buskers become friends; one a beautiful woman both vivacious and entertaining, the other a plain, portly man both eloquent and unfortunate. Their friendship is put to the test when the fame and fortune of the theatre finally come calling.