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After a string of successes including Outside the Law and The Virgin of Stamboul, Universal gave director Tod Browning's next film "special" status. But Browning, perhaps, tried a little too hard to live up to that in his attempt to make Edna Ferber's story Fanny Herself seem larger than life. In reality it's a simple tale, similar to, though not as good as Humoresque. Molly Brandeis (Grace Marvin) makes great sacrifices to send her son Theodore (John Davidson) to Europe to develop his talent as a violinist; so does his sister Fanny (Mabel Julienne Scott). But his violin playing is no match for his immoral nature, and he turns out to be a disappointment to his family. Mrs. Brandeis dies broken-hearted and Fanny, who has given up what she thought was her one chance at love, decides to go to Chicago. She forges a success as a business woman and is planning to go to Honolulu with her unhappily-married boss when she comes face to face with her old sweetheart. They realize it's not too late for them and they wind up happily together.