Gloria Swanson in the role she was made for! "Zaza," queen of the gay French music balls; a creature of whirlwind emotions, savage loves and hates- a veritable wildcat. And how she plays it!

Zaza is an actress and the favorite at an open-air theater in a small French town. When diplomat Bernard Dufresne comes to the village, he stays away for fear he will fall for her. But during one performance, while Zaza is singing on a swing, her rival cuts the rope and she falls. Zaza is badly injured and she makes Dufresne's acquaintance. A romance quickly springs up and he installs her in a villa. Their happiness is marred, however, when his wife appears.