Bert Rigby lives in the small dying town Langmore, where most people depend on badly doing mining corporation. While his fellows are on strike once again, he decides to try his luck in show-biz meanwhile. His first appearance on stage goes all wrong - but the audience loves him anyways. So he starts as a comedian in a traveling amateur show for $50 a night. One day he gets an offer from an ad director from Hollywood and flies to America, expecting a great career... and again leaving behind his pregnant young wife.