Silver-screen megastar Ginger Rogers plays Arlette, a young down-on-her-luck ne'er-do-well who escapes from reform school to enroll in a pickpocket academy taught by Professor Aristide (Basil Rathbone, in a scene-stealing performance). Arlette graduates at the top of her class but is caught red-handed in her first real-world effort. Instead of turning the poor girl in, her intended victim demands that Arlette attend an embassy ball. There she is caught with her hands in the hip pocket of Pierre, a handsome diplomat played by heartthrob Jean-Pierre Aumont. Fortunately for Arlette, Pierre's first response is to fall head over heels for her and her miscreant behavior. Director Sam Wood had previously coached Rogers to an Oscar in KITTY FOYLE, and that powerful combination reconnects in HEARTBEAT to create a fluffy, good-natured comedy.