Searchlight Doyle, lightweight boxing champion of the United States Navy, is shanghaied into the fleet of Sainte Cassette, an island republic, as a replacement for a wealthy slacker who must serve his country to receive a $2 million inheritance, a scheme concocted by attorney Gabriel Grabowski. All his shipmates, except Hyacinth Nitouche, assume that he is indeed the wastrel he purports to be. Doyle falls in love with Adrienne, the most beautiful of the captain's daughters, and wins her affections by treating his comrades in her teashop. Admiral O'Brien, grandfather of the man Doyle is impersonating, comes to visit, and mistaking him for a civilian, Doyle throws him overboard and to everybody's surprise is complimented on his vigilance. But his real identity is exposed by some American sailors, and he is suspected of killing young O'Brien; he is cleared of suspicion, however, and is reinstated by the admiral, thereby gaining Adrienne's love.
Jack Oakie
as Searchlight Doyle
Eugene Pallette
as Hyacinth Nitouche
Lillian Roth
as Adrienne
André Cheron
as High Commissioner
Albert Conti
as Captain
Harry Green
as Gabriel Grabowski
Jean Del Val
as Crosseti
Charles Sellon
as Adm. O'Brien
Tom Ricketts
as Commander
Billy Gilbert
as Naval Officer
