John L. Lloyd 'Sully' Sullivan (Joel McCrea) is a popular director of screwball comedies in Hollywood who becomes unhappy with his success and desires to try to direct serious dramas. In order to get an idea for his dramatic opus, he attempts to cross Depression Era America on his own, despite the efforts of yes men Mr. Lebrand (Robert Warwick), Mr. Jones (William Demarest), and Mr. Casalsis (Franklin Pangborn) to turn it into a public relations gimmick.