The storyline of the film follows several women who volunteer for the Canteen and who must adhere to strict rules of conduct, the most important of which is that while their job is to provide friendly companionship to and be dance partners for the (often nervous) men who are soon to be sent into combat, no romantic fraternization is allowed. One volunteer who confesses to only becoming involved in the Canteen in order to be discovered by one of the Hollywood stars in attendance, ultimately finds herself falling in love with one of the soldiers. Star appearances range from momentary cameos, such as Johnny Weissmuller, seen working in the canteen's kitchen, to more substantial roles such as Katharine Hepburn, who helps advance the plot. Most of the cameos were filmed at the studio, but a number of spots -- Benny Goodman's, for example -- were filmed in New York City.

在森严的皇宫深处，她不过是皇帝手中一枚随时可弃的棋子。老皇上荒淫无道，将她压在书房桌上肆意凌辱，而一墙之隔，太子李煜却在隔壁殿中清晰地听着这一切。事后，她被传唤至太子殿前，得到的却是他满脸阴沉的辱骂，指责她放荡不知羞耻。然而，她所求的，不过是这深宫中一线生机。

出身豆花女的淑妃，被老皇帝一眼看中，入宫后凭借圣宠搅乱后宫，令德妃失势。这让她成为太子沈清宁 眼中“放荡”且仇恨的对象。老皇帝驾崩后，沈清宁 登基为新帝，将淑妃贬为太妃，囚禁于荒凉宫殿，备受欺凌。然而，夜幕降临，新帝却会亲自踏入这冷宫，在床榻上对她进行“折磨”，嘴上骂她不知羞耻，行为却充满了复杂纠缠。淑妃深陷权力斗争与爱恨交织的泥沼，唯一的信念是活下去，这场宫廷深处的生存战役，才刚刚开始。

江南越剧院著名花旦柳莺艺德俱佳，蜚声剧坛。为了越剧事业后继有人，她带伤为学员示范演出《白蛇传》，又收白桃为徒，精心培育。在她的悉心指导下，白桃进步很快，在市里举办的"首届戏曲新人奖会演"中，她因演出《白蛇传》一举成名。获金凤奖。为了给徒弟压担子，柳莺又让白桃学演《打金枝》中的公主，与自己的老搭档、剧团副团长、名小生夏燕配戏，而自己为了给徒弟把场，则当了跑龙套的宫女。《打金枝》的演出，引起了一场风波。名演员夏燕因人到中年，体态微胖，在戏中又是"老配小"，被观众议论为"丝瓜配葫芦"。夏燕为此十分苦恼。她的丈夫、团长兼导演路耀华借机启发她；希望她收徒传艺。柳莺的跑龙套也引起了观众的非议，谣传她犯了错误，正巧被柳莺的丈夫鲁帆听到，他气得戏没看完就回了家，柳莺一回家就招来他一顿责怪。在一片赞扬声中，白桃开始骄傲自满，只顾忙于与男朋友约会。为此柳莺非常痛心，同时也悟出一个道理：要培养一批学员，要有竞争。于是她又为白李、咪咪等学员进行个别辅导。柳莺的行动感染了夏燕，终于收下白李当徒弟。剧团到乡下演出，白桃因"影剧世界"约她折年历照片，请假返城一天，又瞒着团里到电影厂去试镜头，"失踪"了三天，耽误了演出。柳莺因到码头去等她，摔伤了腿。领导决定由叶咪咪顶替白桃的角色，她成功地完成了任务。白桃回来后，领导决定让叶咪咪继续演主角，白桃"跑龙套"，白桃不服气，在化妆间闹情绪，差点引起火灾。为了救火，劳累过度的柳莺又晕倒了。在事实的教育和同志们的帮助下，白桃终于认识了自己的错误，主动向柳莺认错。柳莺勉励她改正错误，继续努力学习。在省里举办的"新人戏曲会演"中，江南越剧团的学员们纷纷登台献艺，一代新人辈出。这时坐在台下的柳莺，含着激动的热泪为青年演员的成长热烈鼓掌。

Meg, a young ballet student, idolizes the school's top ballerina, the shallow Ariane Bouchet. Meg is distressed when she learns visiting prima ballerina Darina rather than Bouchet will play the lead in the school's production of "Swan Lake." So on opening night, Meg arranges an accident which nearly kills Darina and ends her dancing career. As a result, Bouchet becomes a star, while Meg is torn with guilt.

West Point cadet Dick Thorpe falls in love with a girl, who turns out to be a princess from an European kingdom.