Judy Garland stars as a small-town girl with big-city dreams who heads to Broadway and--despite many disappointments and much hard work--stardomin Presenting Lily Mars. After years of struggling in New York, Lily Mars (Garland) finally landsand job as understudy to the star of a Broadway show produced by the manshe has come to love, John Thornway (Academy Award winner Van Heflin). Yet, when the star can't go on and Lily triumphs on stage, Thornway refuses to give her the leading role, afraid that he will be accused of favoring his girlfriend. But nothing is going to stop Lily Mars from reaching the stardom she seeks in this delightful musical.