In a retelling of the "Cinderella" tale, young orphan Ella (Leslie Caron) lives with her unpleasant stepmother (Elsa Lanchester) and stepsisters (Amanda Blake, Lisa Daniels), essentially working as their housekeeper. When the local prince (Michael Wilding) returns from school, a ball is announced. Around that time, Ella meets the prince, who is disguised as the son of the palace chef, and the two fall in love. When she manages to attend the ball, his revealed identity causes quite a stir.