In turn-of-the-century Paris, Gaston Lachaille is a bon vivant much like his uncle, Honore (who thanks heaven for little girls). But Gaston is becoming bored with the high life ... especially the women. He only truly enjoys the time that he spends with one of his uncle's old friends, Madame Alvarez, and her grand-daughter, the precocious and carefree Gigi. Gigi is being groomed to follow in her grandmother's footsteps as a famous courtesan. It suddenly occurs to Gaston that he could become her first protector, but the situation makes him uneasy until he discovers that he's in love with Gigi and wants to marry her.