Billy Bigelow (Gordon Macrae) sits up in heaven watching his teenage daughter struggle through life without him, and puts in a request to return to earth and try to make her understand his death. What follows is, naturally, ultimately uplifting.
The romance, marriage and subsequent problems between the charismatic fairground barker Billy and the sweet-natured Julie (Shirley Jones), are seen in flashback, enhanced by some of the greatest musical numbers ever filmed, including the joyous knees-up June Is Bustin' Out All Over, the stirring anthem You'll Never Walk Alone, and the poignant Soliloquy. A genuine tearjerker.
