Cafe Hostess

Cafe Hostess

Year: 1940

Runtime: 65 mins

Language: English

Director: Sidney Salkow

DramaCrime

At a dancehall the warning “Check your hat, mister!” rings out—shirts disappear before the night ends. A dancer meets a sailor and their romance blooms, but the club’s owner who wants her to stay blocks her departure. Caught between the sea’s pull and the owner’s grip, she must decide whether to risk everything for love.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Cafe Hostess 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 – Cafe Hostess (1940)

Trace every key event in Cafe Hostess (1940) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Jo works as a hostess at a seedy nightclub

Jo is employed as a 'B' girl in a shady waterfront nightclub, serving as a cover for a pickpocket operation run by the owner, Eddie Morgan. The club is a place of illicit activities and manipulation, with Morgan keeping watch over the operations disguised as a piano player. Jo's daily routine revolves around serving patrons and managing her fears in this exploitative environment.

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2

Annie returns to confront Morgan

A former hostess, Annie, comes back to the club to confront Eddie Morgan about how he has ruined her life. She attempts to hold him accountable but finds little success in changing his behavior. Her return stirs tensions and reminds Jo of the possible darker outcomes of her own life in the club.

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3

Annie tries to involve Jo in testifying against Morgan

Annie urges Jo to become a witness against Morgan to help bring him to justice. However, Jo, scared of repercussions, hesitates and chooses to stay silent, highlighting her growing sense of entrapment and fear of retaliation.

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4

A confrontation with Red Connolly escalates

While at the club, Annie witnesses Jo being roughly handled by a local hoodlum, Red Connolly. She confronts him, which escalates into a physical fight, exposing the violent and dangerous environment within the nightclub.

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5

Jo flirts with sailor Dan Walters

Dan Walters, a sailor, arrives at the club and meets Jo. She begins to flirt with him, feeling a genuine attraction. Unlike her usual routine, Jo wants to connect sincerely, but Morgan pressures her to continue her manipulative behavior to steal Walters' wallet.

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6

Jo's clumsy attempt to steal Walters' wallet

Jo tries to pick Walters' wallet but fails due to her nervousness and lack of skill. Walters notices her mistake and becomes disappointed, which marks the end of his interest in her and stirs her awareness of her bleak situation.

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7

Walters offers to marry Jo and escape

Seeing Jo's bruised condition after Morgan slaps her, Walters offers to marry her and take her away from the dangerous environment. His gesture reflects his concern and hope to rescue her from her life in the nightclub.

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8

Walters investigates Morgan’s criminal activity

Determined to help Jo, Walters starts snooping around to gather evidence on Morgan's illegal dealings. He uncovers significant corruption and dangerous activity, setting the stage for his plan to intervene.

9

Walters reports his findings to detective Steve Mason

Walters shares the incriminating evidence with undercover detective Steve Mason, seeking assistance to take down Morgan. Their collaboration becomes central to efforts to dismantle Morgan's criminal organization.

10

Morgan discovers Walters’ investigation

Morgan learns about Walters’ attempts to extract Jo and his spying on his illegal activities. Enraged, Morgan tries to eliminate Walters, fearing that he might expose and ruin him.

11

Climactic fight and Morgan's death

A violent confrontation ensues between Morgan and Walters’ group. During the fight, Morgan is stabbed to death by Annie, who confesses to her role in his murder. This marks the climax of the escalating violence.

12

Annie confesses and is taken away

After the chaos, Annie admits to stabbing Morgan and freely surrenders to detective Mason. Her confession concludes her struggle with guilt and her desire for justice, ending her involvement in the violent resolution.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:14

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Cafe Hostess Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Cafe Hostess

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Cafe Hostess

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More About Cafe Hostess

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