Breakfast for Two

Breakfast for Two

Year: 1937

Runtime: 67 mins

Language: English

Director: Alfred Santell

ComedyRomance

After a night out, Jonathan Blair awakens to find the flamboyant Texan Valentine Ransome has escorted him home. Valentine, attracted to Jonathan, decides to reform his reckless ways, rescue his family’s near‑bankrupt shipping company, and eventually marry him. Their scheme is thwarted by Jonathan’s fiancée, actress Carol Wallace.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Breakfast for Two (1937)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Breakfast for Two (1937). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

Set during the Great Depression era, the story weaves romance with financial peril as the shipping firm teeters on receivership. The period fuels social foibles, bold schemes, and quick reversals that are emblematic of the era's lighthearted, fast-paced comedies. The era's economic tensions shape character decisions and plot twists.

Location

Texas, USA; Jonathan Blair's Mansion; Blair Shipping Offices

The film centers on Jonathan Blair's grand Texas mansion where social whimsy and wedding chaos erupt. The Blair Shipping Offices provide the business backdrop for the company's precarious finances and boardroom maneuvering. The setting blends private life with public industry, a hallmark of 1930s screwball comedies.

🏡 Mansion 🏢 Corporate 🗺️ Texas setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

Main Characters – Breakfast for Two (1937)

Meet the key characters of Breakfast for Two (1937), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jonathan Blair (Herbert Marshall)

A neglected shipping firm heir who loses his regular income and becomes a target for Valentine’s schemes. He starts off proud and impulsive, then grows into a more calculating player who fights to save the company. By the end he pursues a real match with Valentine, culminating in marriage.

💼 Ambitious 🧠 Strategic 🔒 Guarded

Valentine Ransome (Barbara Stanwyck)

A Texan with sharp charm who uses romance to gain control of Jonathan’s company. She first reforms him to win power, then leverages that influence toward marriage and financial advantage. Her plans drive the plot toward a real emotional payoff.

💘 Manipulative 🎯 Determined 🐴 Charismatic

Carol Wallace (Glenda Farrell)

Jonathan’s actress girlfriend who stands in the way of Valentine’s schemes. She resents the meddling and resists the upheaval in her relationship with Jonathan. She exits the story during the deception, and the final union is resolved between Jonathan and Valentine.

🎭 Actress ❤️ Love rival 🧭 Loyal

Butch (Eric Blore)

Jonathan’s valet who supports Valentine’s plan and throws in with the deception. He supplies crucial information to Valentine and engineers the forged marriage certificate, contributing to the plot’s twists and reversals.

🕵️‍♂️ Schemer 🗝️ Informant 🎩 Eccentric

Sam Ransome (Frank M. Thomas)

Valentine’s horse-breaking uncle who reveals that Carol is the mother of his future children. He acts as a catalyst for the reveal of the truth that drives the finale.

🐎 Family 🗣️ Informant 👴 Relentless

Mr. Meggs (Etienne Girardot)

A sharp observer who identifies Sam and informs Jonathan about the deception. He contributes to the unraveling of the masquerade and the turning points of the plot.

🕵️‍♂️ Informant 🎭 Minor foil 💬 Talkative

Justice of the Peace (Donald Meek)

The official presiding over the wedding disruption, whose mounting frustration with the chaotic ceremony adds comic propulsion to the story.

⚖️ Authority 😂 Comic chaos 🗝️ Ceremonial

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

Major Themes – Breakfast for Two (1937)

Explore the central themes of Breakfast for Two (1937), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Romance

Love acts as a catalyst for change, blurring lines between affection and manipulation. Valentine uses charm to steer Jonathan toward ambition, while genuine feelings complicate their power dynamic. The plot tracks how romance can both destabilize and ultimately realign relationships.

💼 Ambition

Jonathan is drawn from his carefree posture into strategic action to save the company, propelled by Valentine’s influence. The film follows bold moves, boardroom schemes, and the drive to regain control of a faltering business. Ambition drives the tension and drives the comedic resolutions.

🕵️ Deception

Masquerades, forged documents, and misread motives drive the plot and create comic tension. Valentine and Butch manipulate appearances to steer outcomes, while others uncover the truth at key moments. The deceptions culminate in a reversal that reshapes the relationships.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:38

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Don't stop at just watching — explore Breakfast for Two 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 Breakfast for Two is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Breakfast for Two Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Breakfast for Two, 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.

Breakfast for Two Summary

Breakfast for Two Timeline

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Breakfast for Two Timeline

More About Breakfast for Two

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Breakfast for Two (1937) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Breakfast for Two (1937) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Breakfast for Two (1937) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow