The four Marx Brothers star in their first film written specifically for the screen as stowaways on an ocean liner bound for New York. Each of them has a separate adventure on board; from matinee idol Zeppo's romancing of a bootlegger's daughter to Groucho having to avoid the attentions of gangster's moll Lucille Briggs.
When the tiny nation of Freedonia goes bankrupt, its wealthy benefactor, Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont), insists that the wacky Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) become the country's president. Sensing a weakness in leadership, the bordering nation of Sylvania sends in the spies Pinky (Harpo Marx) and Chicolini (Chico Marx) to set the stage for a revolution. As Firefly clashes with the Sylvanian ambassador (Louis Calhern), plenty of mayhem ensues, and the countries verge on all-out war.
