Max de Mirecourt, celebrated French novelist, takes a vacation from his social-butterfly wife in Tunisia, where he meets beautiful Alwina, a barefoot hill shepherdess.  To cure his writer's block, Max casts Alwina as heroine in a real-life 'Pygmalion' story.  She reacts to civilized ways and emotions with charming simplicity.

Now Max, stung by reports of his wife's affair with a dark-skinned maharajah, has the idea of launching Alwina in Paris society as a princess.  Will civilization spoil her wild charms?  Who will pair off with whom?