The film is based loosely on the life of the Irish Tenor, Josef Locke (1917-1999), played by Ned Beatty. The film's exposition begins in Liverpool's Irish community, with Micky O'Neil running Hartley's Night Club. Micky is a bit of a rogue, and although he considers Nancy Doyle his girl friend, he seems conflicted in saying "I love you". Following a disastrous love scene, where Nancy briefly shows us all, Micky attempts to win Nancy by booking a series of impostors, including Franc Cinatra and Mr X, a Josef Locke impersonator -- who travels under the 'X' since the real Josef Locke is wanted in England for tax evasion. When Micky finds that Nancy's Mum Cathleen was Josef Locke's special girl in the 1950's -- he tries to hook them up. Another disastrous love scene, and Micky loses his job -- vowing to find the real Joe and bring him back to England from his exile in Ireland to perform for Cathleen and thereby to win back Nancy.
