In 1738 in Aldentown, Gracie Alden fails
to graduate from college for the ninth consecutive year and her
grandfather, founder of the college, wills it to the first female
Alden progeny to graduate.
Two hundred years later, Gracie's
namesake is again about to lose her inheritance, which will be
forever forfeited to the city. Bud Brady offers to tutor her
for $10,000, to be paid by the Guarantee Trust Company, which
controls the university's mortgage. Guarantee Trust is owned
by Hubert Dash, an Alden descendant who has a chronic fear of women
and who will prepare Gracie's final exam. Hubert's secretary,
George Jones, shares Hubert's fear of women.
Meanwhile, Dash's nephew, Martin Bates,
must serenade Ginna Ashburn, daughter of the university president,
for a fraternity initiation and is caught shirtless by the prudish
Dean Sleet. On the day of the final, George conducts the exam
in Hubert's absence. Gracie, equipped by Bud with a
cheat-sheet, passes by guessing answers off his laundry bill.
Finally the owner of the university,
Gracie appoints herself "Dean of Men," abolishes all entrance exams,
and hires a new faculty of incompetent "kooks." Hoping to
avoid the school's sinking reputation, Martin's guardians at
Guarantee Trust ask him to transfer to Oxford, while Ginna's father
resigns.
Having sworn his love to Ginna, Martin
promises to talk to his uncle, but Hubert, using a misogynistic
syllogism, deduces that all women are schemers and threatens to
retract Gracie's university land grant pending a new examination.
Meanwhile, Bud gets the new faculty
femme fatale to sneak into Hubert's room and scare him out of
town. Gracie, overhearing their scheme, goes to warn Hubert
and they fall in love. The next day when Gracie's exam is
broadcast on national radio, Bud feeds her the answers through
headphones and is discovered. Gracie then resolves to be
herself and returns the university to Ashburn, to the relief of
Ginna and Martin, and confesses her marriage to Hubert the previous
night.
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