When Tom Winston's (Cary Grant) estranged wife dies in a sudden accident, he's left alone to raise their three children. Problem is, Elizabeth, David and Robert Winston haven't seen hide nor hair of their father in ages, and they aren't about to let him play the perfect parent now. Tom has to win his bratty brood's respect first. Along comes Cinzia Zaccardi (Sophia Loren), a lovely long-legged lady who's willing to do anything to escape her strict father. So, she poses as a maid and goes to work for Tom as a live-in nanny. Before they know it, Tom, Cinzia and the kids will be living as one big, crazy family.