Painted People on AllMovie

Ellie Byrne (Colleen Moore) and Don Lane (Ben Lyon) are childhood pals -- their fathers (Charles Murray and Russell Simpson) work together as glass blowers. They hope for better things in life, especially after they land an invitation to a fancy society party, where their shabby outfits look even shabbier next to the latest fashions. They both head for the city where Ellie aspires to stardom on the stage, and Lane works at writing. She's successful and he's not, but when he rewrites a play in which Ellie is starring, he finally makes it. Ellie is ready to marry Preston Dutton (Joseph Striker) when she comes to the realization that he's only after her money; meanwhile Lane has become engaged to Stephanie Parris (Charlotte Merriam), but the relationship breaks up. So Ellie and Lane go back home, disillusioned -- and realize, finally, that they really love each other.