THE STORY: Alexander Norris, 17, prefers dancing to studying. His father, a stern dean of men at Stafford College, however, cuts off Alex’s allowance when he fails one of his classes. But when Penny Palmer, a glamorous movie star, comes to town for their spring dance, Alex decides he must go—even against his father’s wishes. So he plans to attend the ball secretly, borrowing an old suit of his father’s and little sister’s Lone Ranger Mask. The Masked Marvel is the hit of the ball, and Penny dances with no one else. But on the stroke of midnight, as he hurries from the ball room in order to get home before his father, he catches his pants on a nail and leaves a small piece behind, which Penny retrieves. Deciding this Masked Marvel must be her dancing partner in her next movie, Penny sends her manager out to locate him. Arriving at the Norris household, things take an unexpected turn, because everything indicates that Dean Norris is the Masked Marvel! He becomes the talk of the town, the object of every co-ed’s affection; and Stafford College is put on the map. But to Dean Norris this is extremely embarrassing, especially when Penny sidles up to him familiarly in the presence of his wife. Alex, determined to get his father out of this, calls up the president of the college to confess, but the president is fearful that he may lose the popular Dean Norris to Hollywood. Alex suddenly loses his timidity and his fear of Father. He strikes a hard bargain with the president, resulting in a happy ending for all; and even Dean Norris is so happy he breaks his reserve to join in a swing finale.
A high school comedy variation on Cinderella.
