An inventor tests his new carburetor and hopes to win over
the woman who seems to like an engineer.
Jane (Wendy Barrie) has been hired to do publicity and meets
engineer Frank Lawson (Weldon Heyburn) and auto tester Terry Martin
(James Stewart) after he overturns a car. Terry shows Jane the
modern auto factory, and Frank takes her into the lab, where Terry
and Gadget (Ted Healy) are not allowed to go. Gadget flirts with
receptionist Fanny Lane (Patricia Wilder). Terry is working on
a new carburetor. Gadget tampers with Frank's car so that Jane
can go with Terry; but she declines to attend a party with him.
Frank tells Jo Sanderson (Una Merkel) he hopes to see her at the
party, so he can go with Jane, who says she is busy. At the party
Terry sees Jane arrive with Frank. Terry sits with Gadget and
Fanny. Jane sees Terry drinking and tries to explain why she came
with Frank. Jo talks with Terry while Jane dances with Vice President
Dean (Ralph Morgan).
Dean tells Terry to let Frank work on the carburetor with him.
Jane tells Terry that his invention will be tested at the Indianapolis
500. Frank suggests a horizontal inlet valve. A driver is killed,
but Terry and Gadget qualify. Jane goes back with Dean. She joins
Terry for lunch and explains that she does not prefer Frank. Jane
and Jo agree that Terry has an inferiority complex. Terry doubts
the car, but Frank assures Dean it is all right. Terry leads but
goes into a skid. Gadget is badly hurt, and Terry is in the hospital
too.
Jane visits Terry, who resents Frank. Jane says she persuaded
Dean to let Frank help Terry. Recovering Gadget urges Terry to
go back to work; but Dean denies Terry a speed test. After Jane
talks on the phone in Dean's office, Terry gets permission; but
Terry refuses to work with Frank. Gadget is in a wheelchair, and
Fanny asks him to forgive her. They all go to a barn dance, and
Terry tells Jane he hopes to win her with the money from the speed
record. On a dry lake Terry accelerates the Falcon car; but a
fire starts. George pulls Terry out of the car and then drives
him back to the hospital. Dean tells them that Jane is the niece
of the company president. Frank offers to drive Jo back to Los
Angeles, and Jane tells Terry to stop being a sap.
This romantic drama portrays two women in strong positions
with a modern company while a mechanical inventor from a poor
family has to overcome his own doubts.