Ralph Willart (Karl Malden) and his wife Annabell (Angela Lansbury) are constantly at odds over what to do with their son, Berry-Berry (Warren Beatty). While Annabell treats him like a saint, Ralph is more keen to his boy's womanizing ways. Berry-Berry's younger brother Clint (Brandon de Wilde) idolizes him despite what his father says, but when Berry-Berry develops a relationship with family friend Echo O'Brien (Eva Marie Saint), Clint discovers just how shallow his older brother is.