The 1941 film directed by Preston Sturges follows a famous director, John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea), who decides he wants to make a film about those experiencing poverty and decides to dress as a homeless person to truly experience that life. He soon meets a girl who wanted to be an actress (Veronica Lake) and the two travel together.
Sturges has a cameo in the film as the director on the set the actress is working on when she finds out John is alive.
"His Girl Friday" actor Ralph Bellamy took on McCrea's part of a radio broadcast of the story, while Lake reprised her role.