The comedies of the 30s and 40s are filled with runaway heiresses and the rambunctious reporters that fall in love with them, but few manage to capture the sparkling chemistry achieved in this Oscar-winning Colbert/Gable vehicle. Colbert plays a spoiled, rich girl desperate to escape her father's overbearing clutches and return to the arms of the man she loves aviator King Westley (Thomas). On the run from Miami to New York, she meets up with Peter Warne (Gable), a down-on-his-luck reporter who's stumbled upon the story of the century. He offers to hide her and help her reach the Big Apple in exchange for the exclusive rights to the story of her escape and reunion with the man she loves. Having no money and no experience traveling in the real world, Ellie reluctantly agrees to the bargain. It's no mean feat hiding a woman whose face is on every newspaper in America, but Peter manages to extract them from some pretty sticky situations.

It doesn't take long for Ellie to appreciate more than his resourcefulness. She's never had so much fun and gamely joins in the hijinks. Cozy quarters and several close calls quickly change their initial opinions of each other – he considers her a brainless brat, she thinks he's an obnoxious bully – into mutual respect and secret affection. Of course, once they reach New York they are both forced to make a major decision. Does she officially marry Westley or embarrass her family once again by choosing Peter? Does Peter turn in the story that will make his career and betray Ellie's trust or chuck it all to be with the woman he loves? It's pretty clear what their choices are going to be: there's no way she would marry a pompous wimp like Westley after spending time with a super-masculine rascal like Peter. His dilemma is also hardly compelling since who needs a job when you're wife is loaded.