A mockumentary revealing the classic con of a narcissistic founder of a for-profit educational institution. The faceless camera crew reveals the inner workings of Birdsock Academy, whose motto, "Excellentia in Mediocritia," exemplifies the abilities of Malcom T. Birdsock to capitalize on his own terminal incompetence. Birdsock surrounds himself with a small team of educators willing to pass on the baton of mediocrity to graduating students able to successfully blend into mainstreams of middling standards and expectations.

Elmer fixes up a room for his just-married, freeloading brother-in-law and wife. When the newlyweds show up, Henry brings a surprise in the form of stepson Junior. The apartment is now too small, so Henry decides that they'll buy a lot and build a do-it-yourself home, a disaster in the making when Junior switches the house's part numbers. It doesn't help matters that Elmer, Henry and the wives are all incompetent.

Genial Irish NYC policeman Tom O'Hara is looking forward to the arrival of his wife and their young son, Shandy from Ireland. Several days before the ship is to dock, O'Hara gets a radiogram informing him that his wife has died at sea. That night a burglar breaks into the Antigue & Second Hand Shop ran by Sol Bloom, directly below O'Hara's flat. The burglar shoots O'Hara, who has rushed to his friend's aid, and, with his last breath he asks Sol to take care of Shandy. When Shandy arrives, Sol immediately makes him a member of the family, which also consists of a very mischievous motherless boy named Joey Bloom, whose pursuits consist of stealing oranges from fruit-dealer Tony, and playing hookey from school. Tom Varney, the young beat cop, is in love with Ruth Sneider, whose mother runs a Cleaning and Dyeling establishment. Ruth, however, is momentarily dazed with worthless Dave Haller.

A child struggles to come to terms with his parents' divorce. Director Charles Reisner's 1932 drama stars Jackie Cooper, Lewis Stone, Conrad Nagel, Lois Wilson, Jean Parker and Louise Beavers.