Selma is a Czech immigrant, a single mother working in a factory in rural America. Her salvation is her passion for music, specifically, the all-singing, all-dancing numbers of the classic Hollywood musicals.

Selma harbours a sad secret: She is losing her eyesight and her son Gene stands to suffer the same fate if she can't put away enough money to secure him an operation. When a desperate neighbour falsely accuses Selma of stealing his savings, the drama of her life escalates to a tragic finale.