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Baby Face Harrington (1935) movie poster

Timeline

Baby Face Harrington (1935) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1935 · 62 mins · English
Directed by
Raoul Walsh
Starring
Donald Meek, Una Merkel, Nat Pendleton, Stanley Fields, Harvey Stephens, Eugene Pallette

A meek small‑town office clerk becomes the unwitting star of a farcical chase after a series of comic mishaps lands him on the police wanted list and earns him the sensational headline “Public Enemy No. 2.” The film follows his hapless attempts to evade law enforcement and the relentless media frenzy.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (12)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Baby Face Harrington
  5. 5 Every angle

12 events in order · contains spoilers

Baby Face Harrington Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Baby Face Harrington (1935) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Willie cashes in the life-insurance policy

    Millicent pressures Willie to succeed financially and he cashes in a life-insurance policy for $2,000. He hopes this money will be a quick path to improvement, but the cash quickly becomes the seed of the trouble to come.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Millicent's home
  2. Willie loses the cash

    In a moment of carelessness, Willie loses the $2,000 cash immediately after receiving it. The missing money triggers suspicion and sets off a chain of misadventures.

    When
    Soon after
    Where
    Town
  3. Willie realizes Skinner robbed him

    After a brief encounter, Willie spots Skinner with the money and deduces that Skinner is the thief. The realization pivots the plot toward Skinner and Rocky's involvement.

    When
    Later that day
    Where
    Skinner's real estate office
  4. Rocky Banister's robberies spread fear

    A professional thief, Rocky Banister, begins terrorizing the town with daring robberies. The town grows nervous as the crimes mount.

    When
    Over the next days
    Where
    Town
  5. Millicent hides a gun

    Millicent becomes increasingly anxious about the rising danger and keeps a gun close at hand in the house. The threat of violence hangs over their home.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Millicent's home
  6. Willie borrows the gun and confronts Skinner

    Willie borrows Millicent's gun and confronts Skinner, and during the encounter he seizes the $2,000. The act marks a turning point as he tries to retrieve the money.

    When
    Shortly after
    Where
    Skinner's office
  7. Money turns out to be in Willie's wallet

    Back home, Willie discovers the missing money has actually been in his own wallet all along. He breathes a sigh of relief, but the relief is short-lived as new trouble looms.

    When
    Shortly after
    Where
    Willie's home
  8. Rocky steals all $4,000

    Before Willie can return the money or apologize, Rocky breaks in and steals all $4,000. The enormous theft deepens the suspicions against Willie and escalates the crisis.

    When
    Moment later
    Where
    Willie's home
  9. Willie is jailed as Rocky's accomplice

    Willie is accused of being Rocky's accomplice and is sent to jail. The mounting pressure tests his alibis while the investigation continues.

    When
    After the theft
    Where
    Town jail
  10. Jail break and Willie’s note

    During a jail breakout, Willie slips a note to the police, hoping to clear his name or point toward Rocky. The chaotic moment intensifies the pursuit.

    When
    During the breakout
    Where
    Jail
  11. Police close in on Rocky

    The police catch up just in time to arrest Rocky, bringing the thief to justice and providing an opportunity to resolve the case. The chase highlights Willie's indirect hero status.

    When
    Immediately after the breakout
    Where
    Town streets / police scene
  12. Willie hailed as a town hero

    With Rocky captured, the police proclaim Willie a hero, recognizing his role in the events that saved the day. Millicent and the townspeople celebrate the outcome.

    When
    End of the events
    Where
    Police station / town

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 12:33

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Timeline questions answered

Baby Face Harrington Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Baby Face Harrington (1935): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Millicent want Willie to succeed financially?

Millicent compares Willie unfavorably to her old beau Ronald, who has become successful. She pressures Willie to achieve similar financial success, believing money is the key to a better life. This pressure directly leads Willie to cash in his life-insurance policy in an attempt to prove himself.

  • millicent
  • ronald
  • pressure
  • money
  • success
Q2

Why does Willie cash in his life-insurance policy?

Willie cashes in his $2,000 life-insurance policy because Millicent constantly pressures him to become successful like her wealthy ex-boyfriend Ronald. He hopes the money will be a quick solution to prove himself worthy and improve their financial situation.

  • willie
  • insurance policy
  • money
  • millicent
Q3

Why does Willie think Skinner stole his money?

Willie loses the $2,000 cash shortly after receiving it. When he later spots real-estate agent Skinner with a large sum of money, he immediately assumes Skinner is the thief who robbed him. This mistaken belief drives him to confront Skinner with a gun.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes Willie loses the money carelessly, setting up the误会.

  • willie
  • skinner
  • money
  • thief
  • robbery
Q4

Why does Willie borrow Millicent's gun to confront Skinner?

Willie borrows Millicent's gun because she's been keeping it nearby due to fear from Rocky Banister's robberies. Armed with the gun, Willie confronts Skinner to retrieve what he believes is his stolen $2,000, during which he seizes the money from the real-estate agent.

  • willie
  • gun
  • skinner
  • confrontation
Q5

How does Willie end up with $2,000 from Skinner?

Willie confronts Skinner at his office with Millicent's gun and demands his money back. During the confrontation, Willie seizes $2,000 from Skinner, believing it's the money he lost. He doesn't realize until later that his original cash was never stolen in the first place.

  • willie
  • skinner
  • money
  • 2000
Q6

Why is Willie accused of being Rocky's accomplice?

Willie is accused because Rocky breaks into his home and steals all $4,000 (the $2,000 Willie took from Skinner plus his original $2,000). The police suspect Willie of working with Rocky since a large sum of money was stolen from his residence, making him appear guilty by association.

  • willie
  • rocky
  • accomplice
  • jail
  • police
Q7

How does Willie's note help catch Rocky during the jailbreak?

During a jail breakout, Willie manages to slip a note to the police. The note provides information that helps authorities track down Rocky Banister. This act transforms Willie from a suspected accomplice into an informant who assists in catching the professional thief.

  • willie
  • note
  • police
  • rocky
  • jailbreak
Q8

Why does Willie become a town hero?

Willie becomes a hero because his note to the police leads directly to Rocky's capture. With the real thief apprehended, Willie's innocence is proven. The police recognize that his actions, though accidental, helped bring Rocky to justice, leading the town to celebrate him as a hero.

  • willie
  • hero
  • rocky
  • captured
  • police
Q9

What happens to Rocky Banister at the end?

Rocky Banister is arrested by police after Willie's note helps track him down. The professional thief, who had been terrorizing the town with robberies and stealing $4,000 from Willie's home, is apprehended and brought to justice, clearing Willie's name.

  • rocky banister
  • arrested
  • thief
  • caught
Q10

Does Willie ever recover his money?

Willie never recovers his money. After discovering the original $2,000 was in his wallet all along, Rocky steals all $4,000 (the original cash plus what Willie took from Skinner) before Willie can return anything or sort out the situation. The financial loss becomes secondary to his wrongful imprisonment and eventual hero status.

  • willie
  • money
  • lost
  • stolen

Movie threads

More Movies Like Baby Face Harrington, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Baby Face Harrington tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Comedies with mistaken identity chases like Baby Face Harrington

Farcical chases where an ordinary person is mistaken for a dangerous criminal. If you enjoyed the farcical chase in Baby Face Harrington, you'll love these other movies where an innocent everyman is hilariously mistaken for a criminal. Discover similar stories of comic misunderstandings, media frenzies, and lighthearted pursuits.

  • mistaken identity
  • farcical chase
  • comic chaos
  • media frenzy
  • wrongful accusation
  • lighthearted
  • Tone: light, comedic, farcical
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a straightforward cause-and-effect chain of comical misunderstandings that rapidly escalates a simple situation into a full-blown, albeit silly, crisis. The protagonist's attempts to rectify the situation only make things worse, leading to a series of chases and close calls before the truth is revealed, often turning them into an accidental hero.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared core trope and lighthearted execution. They feature a fast pace driven by escalating misunderstandings, a tone that prioritizes laughs over genuine tension, and a central character arc where the protagonist gains confidence or reconciles relationships through the ordeal.

Movies about clumsy underdogs like Baby Face Harrington

Stories where a hapless underdog finds strength through a series of comic misadventures. Fans of the clumsy charm of Baby Face Harrington will enjoy these stories about hapless heroes who bumble their way into success. Find more comedies featuring well-meaning but accident-prone protagonists on a journey of accidental heroism.

  • clumsy protagonist
  • underdog story
  • comic mishaps
  • character growth
  • lighthearted
  • accidental hero
  • Tone: lighthearted, hopeful, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, steady stream of gags
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative arc follows an underdog character who starts as insecure or overlooked. A cascade of comedic errors, often involving mistaken intentions or clumsy actions, propels them into an unexpected situation. While initially a disaster, this journey forces them to adapt, leading to a climax where they somehow succeed against the odds, resulting in personal redemption and a happy ending.

Why they belong together: These films share a focus on a specific character type: the lovable, fumbling everyman. The connection is built on a mix of light tone, comedic pacing driven by mishaps, and a heartwarming emotional journey where the character's fundamental goodness triumphs over their initial clumsiness.

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Every angle

Baby Face Harrington (1935) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Baby Face Harrington in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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