Adventure

Adventure

Year: 1945

Runtime: 135 mins

Language: English

Director: Victor Fleming

RomanceDramaAdventureRelationship comedyDisastrous voyages and heroic survival

GABLE’S back and GARSON’S got him! A rough and tumble man of the sea falls for a meek librarian.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Adventure yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Adventure (1945)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Adventure (1945). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s, World War II

The narrative unfolds during World War II, when merchant sailors faced peril at sea. The era's mix of danger, camaraderie, and home-front romance drives the characters' decisions, from marriage in Reno to battles ashore and at sea. War-time duties and the hope for personal happiness intersect as the story moves from shipboard peril to domestic life.

Location

San Francisco, Reno, Emily's farm, South American port city

After being rescued, the men are brought to a bustling San Francisco harbor for R&R. The story expands to Emily's rural farm outside the city, highlighting a longing for settled life amid wartime. Later, a South American port city frames Mudgin's death and the couple's reunion, underscoring how travel and duty shape their world.

🏙️ Urban harbor 🚢 Maritime culture 🌾 Rural outpost

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:32

Main Characters – Adventure (1945)

Meet the key characters of Adventure (1945), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Harry Patterson (Clark Gable)

A calm, quick-witted boatswain whose bravado masks a growing capacity for responsibility. His sense of humor often masks his deeper care for others, and his arc centers on choosing loyalty and love over easy bravado as war and loss press in.

💬 Charismatic 🧭 Pragmatic 💪 Loyal

Mudgin (Thomas Mitchell)

A deeply devout, anxious friend who prays to save his soul after the torpedoing disaster. His guilt and foreboding drive the action and frame the moral stakes of Harry’s choices, even as he dies in the South American port scene.

🙏 Devout 🕊️ Anxious 💔 Guilt-ridden

Emily Sears (Greer Garson)

A reserved, independent librarian who becomes the linchpin of Harry's life. She challenges his swagger, embraces his love, and ultimately faces motherhood and heartbreak with quiet strength.

📚 Intellectual 🧭 Independent 💖 Romantic

Helen Melohn (Joan Blondell)

Emily's outgoing roommate who adds warmth and humor to the romance triangle. She helps drive the social dynamics, offering a counterpoint to Emily's restraint.

🎉 Social 💬 Witty 💃 Outgoing

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:32

Major Themes – Adventure (1945)

Explore the central themes of Adventure (1945), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🙏 Guilt & Redemption

Mudgin's vow to avoid temptations, his untimely death, and the whispered belief that his soul returns set the film's moral core. Harry's initial skepticism gives way to a deep, transformative responsibility toward love and family. Redemption comes through acts of compassion, sacrifice, and the choice to grow beyond fear of spiritual loss.

💖 Love & Commitment

Harry and Emily's relationship evolves from impulsive attraction to a mature partnership tested by marriage, pregnancy, and the realities of war. Reno's wedding and the farm's promise anchor their bond, even as misunderstandings threaten to pull them apart. The narrative culminates in a shared hope for a family grounded in honesty and devotion.

⚓️ Duty & Destiny

Harry's merchant marine duties pull him between peril at sea and his obligations on land. The tension between professional duty and personal longing drives character choices, including the decision to return to Emily and try to build a life together. The war backdrop emphasizes resilience, fate, and the possibility of a second chance.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:32

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Adventure

Don't stop at just watching — explore Adventure in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Adventure is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Adventure Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Adventure, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Adventure Summary

Adventure Timeline

Track the full timeline of Adventure with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Adventure Timeline

More About Adventure

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Adventure: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Adventure

Similar Movies to Adventure

Discover movies like Adventure that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.