Broadway Musketeers

Broadway Musketeers

Year: 1938

Runtime: 63 mins

Language: English

Director: John Farrow

MusicDrama

Three women who grew up together in an orphanage cross paths later in life: one is trapped in an unhappy marriage and caring for a young daughter, another works as an office secretary, and the third performs as a nightclub entertainer. Their reunion forces them to confront their diverging paths, lingering bonds, and the choices that have shaped their lives.

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Timeline & Setting – Broadway Musketeers (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Broadway Musketeers (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New York City, California

The action centers in New York City, with nightclub scenes, streets, and hospitals shaping the drama. California appears as a referenced destination in the husband’s journey, highlighting the characters' mobility and social angles. The urban setting amplifies the film’s mix of romance, crime, and melodrama.

🗽 New York City 🎭 Broadway 🌆 Urban life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:02

Main Characters – Broadway Musketeers (1938)

Meet the key characters of Broadway Musketeers (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Isabel Dowling (Margaret Lindsay)

Isabel is a bored, unhappy wife who seeks affection outside her marriage. She becomes entangled with Phil Peyton, risking her family as the affair unfolds. Her arc culminates in a self-sacrificing act to reveal Judy’s location to the police.

💔 Drama 👩‍👧 Family 💖 Romance

Fay Reynolds (Ann Sheridan)

A nightclub performer whose fame and flirtation pull her into the film’s romantic entanglements. She tries to cover for Isabel during a hospital visit, and her own marriage to Stan adds to the love triangle at the story’s core.

🎤 Performer 💃 Nightlife 💖 Romance

Connie Todd (Marie Wilson)

An office secretary and loyal friend who helps the women stay connected and bail out Fay. Connie’s practical nature contrasts with the chaos around them, and she ultimately faces a personal milestone by marrying her boss.

💼 Secretary 👭 Friendship 💞 Romance

Phil Peyton (Richard Bond)

A gambler whose affair with Isabel triggers the central crisis. His ambitions and debt to criminals push the plot toward violence, ending in his murder by those he owes.

💰 Crime 💔 Betrayal 🃏 Gambler

Stan Dowling (John Litel)

Isabel’s husband who travels to California and later returns to find his marriage in tatters. He divorces Isabel and gains custody of their daughter, Judy, shaping the family’s legal and emotional fracture.

👔 Husband 💔 Divorce 👨‍👧 Father

Judy Dowling (Janet Chapman)

Isabel and Stan’s daughter, the innocent focal point of the criminals’ plot. Judy survives the ordeal and steps into the future after her mother’s tragic sacrifice.

👧 Daughter 👪 Family 💖 Innocence

Milt (Dewey Robinson)

A gangster who grows fond of Judy and attempts to do right by her, but is ultimately killed when he objects to the gang’s violence.

🕵️‍♂️ Gangster 🔪 Crime 🕯 Loyalty

Hobart Skinner (Jimmy Conlin)

One of the gangsters involved in the scheme to hold Judy and settle debts. He represents the criminal network driving the film’s tension.

🕵️‍♂️ Crime 💰 Gang 🗝 Power

Vince Morrell (Dick Purcell)

A gangster connected to the debt-driven criminal ties surrounding Phil Peyton. His actions contribute to the escalating danger surrounding Isabel and Judy.

🕴️ Crime 💵 Debt 🔗 Conspiracy

Nick (Anthony Averill)

Another member of the criminal group involved in the plot against Judy, representing the external forces threatening the trio.

🕶️ Gangster 🗡 Crime 🌪 Pressure

Anna (Dorothy Adams)

The nurse who cares for Judy and informs Stan about the affair, bridging Isabel’s private life with the public consequences.

👩‍⚕️ Nurse 👩‍👧 Caregiver 🕊 Duty

School Teacher (Jan Holm)

A minor cast member who appears in the school context within the story’s broader social setting.

🏫 School Life 👥 Community

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:02

Major Themes – Broadway Musketeers (1938)

Explore the central themes of Broadway Musketeers (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Sacrifice

Isabel Dowling’s arc culminates in a selfless act to protect her daughter Judy and expose the murder gang’s plan. The moment ties maternal love to courage, showing a character willing to give up everything for family. The sacrifice reframes the narrative from personal desire to communal protection.

❤️ Romance

The story threads a romance through the lives of three women, including Isabel’s affair with Phil Peyton and Fay’s own romantic entanglements. These relationships catalyze the central crisis and test loyalties among friends. The consequences of love drive the characters toward risk, secrecy, and ultimately tragedy.

👪 Family

Family ties anchor the plot: Isabel’s relationship with her daughter Judy, Stan’s pursuit of custody, and Connie’s steadfast friendship. The annual reunions underscore the desire to keep family connected amid danger. The narrative ultimately centers on protecting Judy and preserving a family’s future.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:02

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Broadway Musketeers Summary

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Broadway Musketeers Summary

Broadway Musketeers Timeline

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Broadway Musketeers Timeline

More About Broadway Musketeers

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