A World War II veteran wants to return to advertising on his own terms, but finds it difficult to be successful and maintain his integrity.
Duke Fergus falls for Ann 'Flaxen' Tarry in the Barbary Coast in turn-of-the-century San Francisco. He loses money to crooked gambler Boss Tito Morell, goes home, learns to gamble, and returns. After he makes a fortune, he opens his own place with Flaxen as the entertainer; but the 1906 quake destroys his place.
A soldier falls in love with a newly-married woman after her husband abandons her for a business meeting on their honeymoon.
Small-town soda-jerk Peggy Evans quits her dead-end job and moves to New York where she invents a new identity.
In Chicago, an unemployed actor aims to solve the mystery concerning a string of ax murders, apparently committed by a lunatic.
Circumstance, an old flame and a mother-in-law drive a happily married couple to the verge of divorce and insanity.
Hank Medhill, artificial silk manufacturer, has returned to the U.S. from Japan to learn that his former girlfriend, Eleanor Breen is about to marry. Hank convinces Eleanor to leave the groom-to-be and marry him. Shortly after the marriage, they discover that they have nothing in common. They separate. Hank decides to pick any name from the phone book and date them. That date results in a wild and frightful night for Hank, thanks to Eleanor's clever plan.
Wrongfully convicted of a robbery and murder, Paul Lavond breaks out of prison with a genius scientist who has devised a way to shrink humans. When the scientist dies during the escape, Lavond heads for his lab, using the shrinking technology to get even with those who framed him and vindicate himself in both the public eye and the eyes of his daughter, Lorraine. When an accident leaves a crazed assistant dead, however, Lavond must again make an escape.
A young pacifist after refusing on principle to defend her sweetheart's honor and being banished in disgrace, joins a riverboat troupe as a singer, acquires a reputation as a crackshot after a saloon brawl in which the villain of the piece accidentally kills himself with his own gun, falls in love with his former fianceé's sister and finally bullies an apprehensive family into accepting him.
In this drama, a teenage boy and girl, tired of parental repression, begin sneaking out on dates and to parties. The parents are strict, but pay little real attention to their kids, therefore the kids turn to their high school biology teacher who is willing to really listen to their confidences.
The bold Tira works as dancing beauty and lion tamer at a fair. Out of an urgent need of money, she agrees to a risky new number: she'll put her head into the lion's mouth! With this attraction, the circus makes it to New York and Tira can pursue her dearest occupation— flirting with rich men and accepting expensive presents.
A woman's love for and devotion to a married man results in her being relegated to the "back streets" of his life.
A bored socialite finds fleeting romance with an artist.
Schooled by her wealthy brother-in-law William Hollins, Christine Bleeker plans to marry Ralph Lincourt when he is divorced. He, however, is equally pursued by Nancy Barron, whom Christine dislikes. Ned Klegg loves social secretary Barbara, and resents the attention paid her by Barron, Nancy's elderly husband. Nell Martin, a servant in the Hollins home, is in love with the gardener but is persecuted by the butler. Aviator Mulvain and his mechanic Le Prim arrive, and Le Prim absconds with Nancy in an auto, pursued by Mulvain and Christine, who force him to release her. Christine announces her engagement to Mulvain, who declares he is a poor man. In the resulting commotion, it transpires that Nell, threatened with exposure, has drowned herself. The shock brings a change of emotion: Barbara rejects Barron and accepts Klegg, and Christine accepts Mulvain, content to share his poverty. Considered a lost film.
Connie (Louise Glaum) is married to attorney Robert MacNair (Mahlon Hamilton). When he leaves town on a business trip, her friend from the old days, Molly May (May Hopkins), invites her to a party. Connie, who misses her old life, decides to go under an assumed name. Teddy Garrick, the host (Joseph Kilgour), makes a play for her and she burns her shoulder trying to get away from him. Dillon, a burglar who is hiding in the house (George Cooper), surreptitiously presses a gun into Connie's hand from behind a curtain. As Garrick comes toward her he is shot dead.