Adventure in Baltimore

Adventure in Baltimore

Year: 1949

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard Wallace

RomanceFamilyComedy

Dinah Sheldon, a student at an elite all‑girls academy, becomes an outspoken advocate for women’s rights, prompting the recurring question, “What happened in the greenhouse?” Her minister father and boyfriend Tom Wade vehemently oppose her activism, sparking personal and familial conflict as she pushes for change.

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Timeline & Setting – Adventure in Baltimore (1949)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Adventure in Baltimore (1949). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1905

The story is set in 1905, a period when American society wrestled with modernization, education for women, and evolving social norms. Public life includes parades, debates, and church politics that test traditional gender roles and authority. The era's emphasis on propriety and reputation heightens the stakes around Dinah's artistic ambitions and advocacy.

Location

Baltimore, Pittsburgh

Baltimore serves as the film's home base, reflecting early-1900s urban life and family expectations. Much of the action centers around the Sheldon family home, Miss Ingram's Seminary, and public spaces where debates and scandals unfold. The story also moves to Pittsburgh to visit Dinah's aunt, illustrating a nearby urban setting tied to the main events.

🏙️ Baltimore 🗺️ Pittsburgh

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:44

Main Characters – Adventure in Baltimore (1949)

Meet the key characters of Adventure in Baltimore (1949), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dr. Andrew Sheldon (Robert Young)

A principled Episcopalian pastor who navigates his daughter Dinah's headstrong ambitions with forgiveness and support. He wrestles with protecting his family's reputation while nurturing Dinah's artistic dreams, and his impromptu sermon on tolerance becomes a pivotal moment for his congregation.

Father Pastor Reformer

Dinah Sheldon (Shirley Temple)

An enthusiastic art student who challenges societal expectations with courage and wit. Her dream of studying art in Paris drives conflict and growth, as she pushes boundaries while seeking personal and artistic fulfillment.

Artistic Headstrong Idealist

Tom Wade (John Agar)

Dinah's childhood sweetheart who works as a mechanic. He grapples with love, loyalty, and the social pressures surrounding Dinah's activism, ultimately expressing his feelings while facing reputational risks.

Supportive Romantic Loyal

Bernice Eckert (Carol Brannon)

Tom's new love interest, embodying a cosmopolitan, conventional ideal. Her presence contrasts with Dinah's independent ambitions and highlights differing visions of modern womanhood.

Romantic Rival Traditional

Dan Fletcher (Albert Sharpe)

A Scottish vestryman who uses social pressure and scandal to influence Andrew’s career. He represents the cautious, status-quo side of the community that resists change.

Vestryman Politician

Mrs. Lilly Sheldon (Josephine Hutchinson)

Dinah's mother, who advocates conventional femininity and propriety while supporting her daughter's talents in her own way. She embodies the social expectations Dinah often challenges.

Mother Conventional

Mrs. Eckert (Josephine Whittell)

Bernice's mother, part of the social circles that influence Tom and Bernice. Her views reflect upper-class attitudes surrounding reputation and propriety.

Society Matriarch

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:44

Major Themes – Adventure in Baltimore (1949)

Explore the central themes of Adventure in Baltimore (1949), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Equality

Dinah challenges traditional gender roles by advocating for women’s rights and equal opportunities. Her actions and speeches bring feminist ideas into public view, even as she faces resistance from peers and family. The narrative uses moments of humor and confrontation to examine how society responds to calls for equality.

🏛️ Reputation

Reputation and public perception drive much of the plot, with Dinah’s painting, Tom’s portrait, and the rector’s nomination all risking social standing. Dan Fletcher and others push for punishment, while Andrew’s growth shows that mercy can repair damage to family honor. The story suggests that tolerance can redefine a community’s judgment.

🎨 Art & Ambition

Dinah uses art as a means to pursue her dream of study abroad, even as it provokes controversy. The Spirit of Labor contest and the anonymous painting test the boundaries between artistic expression and propriety. The arc frames art as a path to independence, balanced against social expectations.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:44

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Adventure in Baltimore Summary

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Adventure in Baltimore Summary

Adventure in Baltimore Timeline

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Adventure in Baltimore Timeline

More About Adventure in Baltimore

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More About Adventure in Baltimore

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