At Goro's Tea House, Cho-Cho San (Sylvia Sidney) bids farewell to her mother (Helen Jerome Eddy) and grandfather (Edmund Breese), about to undergo training as a geisha in exchange for money that will support her family.
After her relatives leave, Madame Goro (Judith Vosselli) introduces Prince Yamadori (Irving Pichel), a prospective husband. Goro explains that Cho-Cho San is high-born and not yet used to the geisha life style.
Meanwhile, on board an American steamship en route to Japan, Lieutenant Barton (Charlie Ruggles) convinces his friend Lieutenant Ben F. Pinkerton (Cary Grant) that once they arrive to skip the American Counsul's party.
Pinkerton and Barton enter Goro's, and are greeted by geishas. They are seated and watch a performance of dancing and music. Pinkerton wanders to a different room and, through a screen, sees a dancing silhouette. Pinkerton is enchanted with Cho-Cho San, and they talk.
Yamadori comes to meet Cho-Cho San again. Goro pretends she is indisposed but a neighboring geisha reveals that she is with a naval officer. Infuriated, Yamadori vows never to set foot in Goro's house again. This makes Goro angry at Cho-Cho San.
Goro tells Pinkerton that Cho-Cho San was supposed to marry Yamadori. Barton tells him that "marriage" to Japanese is just a formality: when husbands desert, the geishas are automatically considered divorced. Realizing how easy the situation is, Pinkerton informs Goro of his intention to marry Cho-Cho San.
Cho-Cho San's relatives assemble at the couple's new house, and the marriage takes place as a tea ceremony. Pinkerton asks Barton to send the relatives away, while he gets to know Cho-Cho San better and shows her how to kiss.
Several days later, Pinkerton arrives home, where Cho-Cho San greets him with honors. With a serious face, she asks Pinkerton if he is in love with another woman. He denies it; she embraces him, happy again, but he maintains a serious face.
Several weeks later, Cho-Cho San happily receives Pinkerton and Barton. Pinkerton hasn't had the courage to tell Cho-Cho San that he's leaving the following day. Barton suggests they all have dinner at the hotel. While eating, the commander of the naval vessel visits the table, mentioning they are due to leave tomorrow. Cho-Cho San is taken aback. Returning home, Cho-Cho San is upset, so Pinkerton sings to her "My Flower Of Japan".
The following day, Pinkerton is leaving but asks Cho-Cho San not to see him off at the dock, and promises to come back in the spring.
The next spring, Butterfly happily holds her infant son.
In a house owned by Pinkerton and his fiancé, Adelaide (Sheila Terry), she mentions that ever since he's returned from Japan he has been different. He offers to tell her something that might upset her and she agrees.
In Cho-Cho San's home, her grandfather asks her to marry Yamadori, but Cho-Cho San explains that she and the entire house belong to Pinkerton. Angrily, her grandfather disowns her and asks that she never enter his house again.
Meanwhile, Pinkerton and his newly married wife Adelaide walk down the marriage aisle to the strains of Mendelssohn's music and rice being thrown by guests.
Back in Japan, Cho-Cho San goes to the American consul and asks about what has happened, and after she leaves, the consul sends a telegram to Pinkerton asking him to come.
Cho-Cho San goes to a temple to pray, and later sees a naval ship in the distance and is overjoyed at Pinkerton's imminent return, explaining it to her son.
At the ship dock, Pinkerton arrives with Barton and is met by Adelaide. Barton mentions that the Consul will be having a party that night, and Pinkerton thinks that's why he sent the telegram.
Cho-Cho San suggests to Suzuki (Louise Carter) that they surprise Pinkerton. They sit down by the window to watch for Pinkerton's approach. Dejected, she still believes Pinkerton will come, despite Suzuki's warnings that "men always forget."
In their hotel room, Pinkerton explains the situation to his Adelaide. She suggests that once he talks with Cho-Cho San, all will be cleared up. He asks her to accompany him.
Pinkerton and Adelaide arrive at Cho-Cho San's house. He explains that he must leave soon and is never coming back. In tears, she bids him goodbye. Crying, she tells Suzuki to take Trouble to his grandfather, who will raise Trouble "in the ways of his ancestors." She tells Suzuki she will follow after she prays. As she prays, she unsheathes a knife, and stabs herself. Her dying words are "I love you for always."
A 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Marion Gering, based on David Belasco's play and the story by John Luther Long, adapted for the screen by Josephine Lovett and Joseph Moncure March, cinematography by David Abel, art direction by Ward Ihnen, starring Cary Grant, Sylvia Sidney, Charlie Ruggles, and Irving Pichel. Music is credited to W. Franke Harling (although much of it is an adaptation of Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly).