Stateside life after World War II poses a challenge for pretty ex-WAVE Jean Madison (Wanda Hendrix). Jilted and jobless, she is taken under the collective wings of four ex-airmen who show her the ways of the non-working world. Master scroungers, led by their old bomber captain Jimmie Stevens (Edmond O'Brien), the boys have a big brother feeling for the girl, though Jimmie is feeling much more than brotherly. Jean holds them, and especially Steve, at arms length, hoping that her no-show cad of a lover will come to her rescue. But Jimmie has plans of his own that lead to a bout in the boxing ring in a crazy effort to prove his love to Jean.

An off-beat post-war romantic comedy, The Admiral Was A Lady features strong comedic performances from the appealing cast. Edmond O'Brien made another movie in 1950 that was a career landmark, the critically acclaimed noir classic, D.O.A. Wanda Hendrix was working through a very short, very troubled 7-month marriage to war hero Audie Murphy while shooting this film, but her game performance betrays none of her private turmoil. Rudy Vallee does a perfect supporting turn as a stodgy millionaire with a trick "sacroiliac".