Three sailors--Gabey (Gene Kelly), Chip (Frank Sinatra) and Ozzie (Jules Munshin)--are let loose in New York City on a 24-hour leave. On a subway, Gabey sees a poster of "Miss Turnstiles of the Month"--a woman named Ivy Smith (Vera-Ellen). Thinking she's a high society girl, the trio spends the day looking for her. Along the way they run into a cab driver, Hilde (Betty Garrett), who is attracted to Chip, and a gorgeous anthropologist named Claire (Ann Miller).