"The era is Movie land in the late '20's, when the coming of sound - talking pictures! - is striking terror to every silent film star's heart. To such as glamorous Queen of the Silver Screen Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), for whom words of two syllables represent a major challenge, the mysteries of the microphone are unfathomable. Her voice resembles a cement mixer in heat. Nor is her vocal coach (Kathleen Freeman), late of the legitimate theatuh, much help. The solution devised by her matinee idol co-star Don Lockwood (Kelly), and his partner Cosmo (O'Connor), is to dub Lina's voice, have her mouth the words while they are actually spoken or sung by a young extra, Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). It works, and the popularity of Lina and Don soars as their relieved fans find that their idols actaully can talk. But as the trio works its off-screen magic to save bitchy Lina's career, Don finds himself falling in love with Kathy, and is appalled to realize that he and his scheme have permanently ruined her career. His subsequent public unmasking of Lina - and the real talent of the voice behind her - resolves everything, sends Kathy zooming to stardom, and opens the possibility of marriage to Don."
