The 1929 New York stock market crash plunged the United States into an unprecedented economic crisis. It was the start of the Great Depression. Unemployment and poverty exploded, turning the economic crisis into a full-blown social crisis. Abroad, other economic powers were also in decline. The crisis became global.

Driven by idleness and misery, men and women sign up for dance marathons held all over the country, in the hope of winning the prizes awarded to the winners. Robert enters one of these huge dance halls and Rocky, the master of ceremonies, welcomes the competitors. Among them are Sailor, a former sailor, Alice, an extravagant and desperate blonde, and Gloria, who will become Robert’s partner. Both are film extras, and have had a chaotic and unsuccessful career. Both hope that the presence of numerous producers in the audience will enable them to be noticed and hired. Both are ready to dance until they drop, until they die…