Johnny Dalton (Frank Sinatra), a poor bank teller who works tirelessly to save enough money to marry his doting girlfriend (Jane Russell), comes across a fortune when he rescues a duplicitous bookie (Nestor Paiva) from attackers. As a misguided sign of thanks, the bookie gives Dalton an ample cash gift — which curiously matches the amount missing from his bank. Now suspected of embezzlement, the bewildered Dalton turns to his best friend, a wily and wacky waiter (Groucho Marx), for help.