In town she agrees to prove her skills as a laundress when a woman's dress is accidentally spattered with mud.

While washing a sheet, Mrs. O'Leary discovers a drawing, apparently created by Gil Warren, a devious local businessman.

Her sons realize that it reveals that he has a plan to run a tramline along a street that he and his cronies intend to buy up cheaply.

Meanwhile, Bob, the youngest O'Leary son, who helps his mother, is in love with Gretchen, an innocent German girl.

Dion and Belle bribe the local politicians to set up a saloon on the street where the tramline will pass.

Dion makes a deal to support Warren's political career and carve up business in the town.

As mayor, Jack marries the couple, but knocks Dion out in a fist fight as soon he realizes he has been deceived.

Dion and Bob help to save Gretchen and the baby, while Belle rescues Mrs O'Leary.

Belle and Dion are reconciled, and Mrs. O'Leary predicts that the city will be rebuilt and flourish after her son's sacrifice for its future.

During pre-production, MGM had announced that Jean Harlow, who was under contract to that studio, would be loaned to 20th Century Fox to star in the role Belle Fawcett.

Faye's popularity skyrocketed as a result of the picture, and she was reunited with Power and Ameche that same year for Alexander's Ragtime Band, which proved to be even more successful.

The film was also nominated in the categories of Music (Scoring), Sound Recording (E. H. Hansen), and Writing (Original Story), and won for Assistant Director (Robert D.

However, Mason was elected on a reform ticket like the fictional Jack and took similar measures to deal with the fire.

Mrs. O'Leary's son James Patrick did achieve success as a gambler and saloon owner comparable to that of Dion in the film.