Concert pianist Montgomery Royale (George Arliss) is performing for a visiting king when a bomb goes off in an attempt on the king's life. Struck deaf as a result, his career is ruined. Feeling lost, Royale discovers he can read lips and begins eavesdropping on other people's conversations, using what he learns to help them. This new skill gives him a selfless outlook on life, and he goes so far as to call off his engagement to Grace (Bette Davis) after learning she is in love with another man.