Paris, the city of dreams, is a logical place for two Americans, Barbara Woodruff (Diahann Carroll) and David Jordan (Richard Kiley), to meet and fall in love. In fact, even before their first meeting, a prologue shows each one, unknown to each other, revealing the same hidden yearnings in The Sweetest Sounds.
They meet soon enough. David, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who has succumbed to the soft life of mooching off wealthy American tourists, casually drops into the bustling studio of his friend, French fashion photographer Luc Delbert (Alvin Epstein). While Luc is setting up some cover shots for Vogue, David gaily serenades magazine editor Molly Plummer (Polly Rowles) and Luc's shapely sweetheart-assistant, Jeanette Valmy (Noelle Adam), with his lively paean to womanhood, How Sad. Presently, Barbara, who is Luc's top model, bursts in. David is completely charmed by her and offers to walk her home after work. As they stroll through the boulevards of Paris, Barbara confides to him her bubbly philosophy of life in Loads of Love. But, somewhat afraid of her feelings, she tells David that they shouldn't see each other again.
Waiting for Barbara at her apartment is the wealthy bon vivant, Louis de Pourtal (Mitchell Gregg). Although she is not in love with Louis, Barbara is very flattered by his attention. As she dresses for dinner, Louis expresses his satisfaction at being The Man Who Has Everything. More and more, however, Barbara finds herself thinking about David.
In the meanwhile, David has gone off to Nice with his gigolo crony, Mike Robinson (Don Chastain), and Mike's acquisition, the pleasure-mad Comfort O'Connell (Bernice Massi), whose daddy's oil wells have made her an especially sought-after traveling companion. When joined by Luc and his current flame Gabrielle (Ann Hodges), David and Mike lead them in the freeloader's merry credo, Be My Host. An embarrassing situation occurs soon afterward when Jeanette bounces in and finds Luc with Gabrielle. All is forgiven after Gabrielle leaves, and the duo sings the brightly tripping La La La.
Back in Paris, Luc throws a huge party in honor of Comfort. David is extremely upset to find Barbara there with Louis. When they are alone, he confesses his love and demands that she stop seeing Louis. Flushed with anger, Barbara lashes back at him for his presumption (You Don't Own Me), and David storms out of the party. All this is rather amusing to Mollie and Comfort, who poke fun at all the amatory chiches that seem expected of lovers (Love Makes the World Go).
Alone in her apartment, Barbara is troubled by increased feelings towards David. He enters and pleads with her to go with him alone to Honfleur on the Northwest coast, where they can be alone. Barbara also sees this as an opportunity for David to start writing again. Unable to control their emotions any longer, they embrace feverishly and admit to the torments that love has brought them (Nobody Told Me).
But in spite of Barbara's encouragement, David cannot get started on his novel. Too many years of bumming around Europe have sapped his will to create; his only thoughts are of the gay parties he knows are being planned at Deauville for Easter week. When Barbara discovers that he doesn't really want to write, David accuses her of meddling and takes off to Deauville.
Back in Barbara's Paris apartment, Louis grandly offers to forgive her for running off with David, but she tells him it would be impossible to resume their former friendship. After he leaves, Barbara berates herself for the stupid way that she handled the situation (An Orthodox Fool).
Once they have finished their spree at Deauville, David, Mike, and Comfort move on to St. Tropez. But Comfort, who is constantly on the lookout for more action (Eager Beaver), is becoming a bit bored with the indolent life there. She gets into a fight with Mike which somehow makes David realize for the first time what a worthless existence he has been leading. Thoroughly disgusted with himself, he hurries back to Paris.
He finds Barbara at Luc's studio, and they reaffirm their love (No Strings). While walking to her apartment, Barbara convinces David that he will never be able to accomplish anything worthwhile if he continues to stay in Europe; he must return home to Maine. He wants her to go with him, but Paris is Barbara's life and she is afraid to leave. David understands this, and promises to come back to her someday. In the meanwhile, they must try to believe that they never met, that The Sweetest Sounds for the both of them are still to be heard. Sadly they walk in opposite directions as the curtain falls.
Story synopsis copyright 1962 Samuel Taylor. All rights reserved.
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