In 18th-century France, a young man masquerades as an actor to avenge his friend's murder.

In 1927 Hollywood, a silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.

A detective tries to prevent the assassination of President-elect Abraham Lincoln during a train ride headed for Washington in 1861.

Bookkeeper Sam Wilson learns from his boss, Malcolm Jarvis, that he is losing his job because the company is closing down. Jarvis then makes a strange proposition, saying he intends to commit suicide but wants Sam to make it look like a murder, in order for his wife and son to inherit Jarvis's life insurance. Sam declines, but when he goes to see Jarvis and finds his dead body, he reluctantly goes along with the scheme.

Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.

A popular singer, Marian Washburn, suddenly and unexplainably loses her voice, causing a shake-up at the club where she works. Her worried but loyal piano player, Luke Jordan, helps to promote a new, younger singer, Susan Caldwell, to temporarily replace Marian. Susan finds some early acclaim but decides to leave the club after a few performances. Soon after Susan quits, she is gunned down, and Marian quickly becomes a suspect.

Faced with a police raid ordered by Errol's wife, turned Reform League president, the manager of the local burleque theatre sends one of the girls over to get friendly with Errol.

After accidentally killing her lecherous producer, a famous actress tries to hide her guilt.