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Child of Glass (1978) movie poster

Timeline

Child of Glass (1978) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1978 · 93 mins · English
Directed by
John Erman
Starring
Anthony Zerbe, Barbara Barrie, Biff McGuire, Denise Nickerson, David Hurst, Nina Foch

Alexander Armsworth and his family relocate to an authentic antebellum mansion once owned by a river pirate. There, Alexander keeps seeing the ghost of a young Creole girl who implores him to solve a riddle and locate the mysterious “child of glass.” He has only a day or two; failure means a lifelong haunting.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (11)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Child of Glass
  5. 5 Every angle

11 events in order · contains spoilers

Child of Glass Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Child of Glass (1978) 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. Family Moves to Louisiana Plantation

    Alexander Armsworth and his family arrive at an antebellum Louisiana plantation, where his mother and sister become determined to restore the estate's former glory. Alexander feels uneasy about the historic home, sensing a mysterious presence on the property. The family begins settling into their new life with hopes of renovation and rediscovery.

    Where
    Louisiana plantation
  2. Introduction to Blossom Culp

    Alexander meets Blossom Culp, a superstitious girl raised by her spiritualist aunt, who becomes his loyal friend despite her strange demeanor. Blossom's curiosity about the supernatural offers Alexander a new perspective on the mysterious happenings around the plantation. Their friendship begins to deepen as they navigate the estate's secrets.

    Where
    Near the plantation
  3. First Sightings of Mysterious Lights

    Alexander notices strange, mysterious lights flickering around the plantation at night, which unsettle him further. Curious and somewhat frightened, he becomes determined to uncover the cause of these supernatural phenomena. The lights become a recurring clue to the estate's haunted past.

    Where
    Old barn and grounds
  4. Encounter with Inez's Ghost

    While investigating the lights, Alexander finds himself in the old barn where he encounters the ghost of Inez Dumaine, a young Creole girl. She reveals that she is cursed to remain on the property and seeks help to solve a riddle to end her haunting. This marks the beginning of his supernatural quest.

    Where
    Old barn
  5. Revelation of Inez's Past

    Inez explains her tragic history involving her family, her uncle Jacques Dumaine, and how her spirit was cursed after her murder. She reveals that her ghost is trapped because she couldn't reveal her family's hidden fortune, which her uncle murdered her to hide.

  6. The Riddle Is Discovered

    Inez presents Alexander with a riddle that must be solved before All Saints' Eve to free her ghost. The riddle references a murdered girl and a child of glass, setting Alexander on a search to uncover the mysterious clues necessary to break her curse.

  7. Using the Crystal Ball

    Alexander, with Blossom and her grandmother, uses Blossom’s crystal ball to visualize the solution and discovers that the 'child of glass' is a china doll named Babette. This revelation leads him to understand what needs to be done to free Inez from her curse.

  8. Barn Fires and the Confrontation

    The plantation's disgruntled handyman, Amory Timmons, burns down the barn as an act of revenge. During the chaos, Alexander is chased and falls into the old well, prompting the family to realize he is missing and setting off a city-wide search. Meanwhile, Amory escapes leaving chaos behind.

    Where
    Barn and surrounding grounds
  9. Rescue at the Well

    Blossom, light enough to be lowered into the well, rescues Alexander and retrieves the doll Babette on the ledge. They are pulled to safety, and Alexander begins to understand that the doll's significance is crucial to breaking the curse.

    Where
    Old well
  10. Laying the Doll to Rest

    The trio locates Inez's family tomb and places the doll Babette on her grave. This act symbolically helps to break the curse, allowing Inez to find peace and move on. Inez's ghost manifests one last time to thank Alexander and Blossom for their help.

    Where
    Inez's family tomb
  11. Inez's Final Rest and Treasure Revealed

    As Inez's ghost departs forever, the doll she left behind smashes, revealing diamonds inside—long-lost Dumaine family treasure. Inez has given Alexander the treasure, which will aid his family in restoring the plantation, symbolizing the resolution of their mystical and worldly quests.

    Where
    Near the grave

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:13

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Timeline questions answered

Child of Glass Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Child of Glass (1978): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Jacques Dumaine murder his niece Inez?

Jacques Dumaine murdered Inez because she knew the location of her family's hidden treasure. As a river pirate, he wanted to keep the fortune for himself, so he threw Inez down a well in the barn to silence her and cursed her spirit to remain trapped on the property so she could never reveal where the treasure was hidden.

Foreshadowing: The mystery lights Alex sees are connected to Inez's restless spirit trying to get attention.

  • inez dumaine
  • jacques dumaine
  • murder
  • curse
  • treasure
  • well
Q2

What is the "child of glass" in the riddle?

The "child of glass" refers to a china doll named Babette that Inez's mother gave her to care for. In the vision, young Inez promises her mother she will protect Babette, making the doll metaphorically her 'child' and 'child of glass' representing something precious and fragile.

Foreshadowing: The riddle mentions 'the murdered lass' and 'child of glass' becoming 'as one' to free the spirit.

  • child of glass
  • riddle
  • babette
  • doll
  • inez
Q3

How does placing the doll on Inez's grave break the curse?

Placing Babette on Inez's grave fulfills the riddle's condition that 'the two shall be as one.' By reuniting the murdered girl with her precious 'child,' the curse is broken, allowing Inez's spirit to finally depart to be with her parents in the afterlife.

Foreshadowing: The riddle states 'when the two shall be as one, the spirit's journey will be done.'

  • curse breaking
  • inez ghost
  • babette
  • tomb
  • grave
Q4

Why does Amory Timmons burn down the barn?

Amory Timmons was the handyman working on the plantation, but Alex's mother fired him. Consumed by revenge for being dismissed, Amory sets fire to the barn to destroy evidence of his presence and potentially kill Alex, whom he blames for his firing.

Foreshadowing: Amory's disgruntled behavior is introduced when he's first mentioned as the handyman.

  • amory timmons
  • barn fire
  • revenge
  • fired
  • handyman
Q5

How does Blossom rescue Alex from the well?

After Alex falls into the old well during the barn fire chaos, Blossom's dog leads her to the well house. The police are searching for Alex, but Blossom is the only one light enough to be safely lowered into the well. She finds Alex unconscious on a ledge, ties a rope around him, and they are both pulled to safety.

Foreshadowing: The barn fire creates the emergency that leads Alex to fall into the well.

  • blossom
  • alex well
  • rescue
  • dog
  • well house
Q6

Why does the doll shatter and reveal diamonds?

When Inez's spirit departs, the doll Babette shatters because its purpose has been fulfilled. The hollow inside of the doll contains the Dumaine family's lost treasure, diamonds that Inez was meant to guard. The treasure was hidden inside the doll all along, disguised as a ordinary china figurine.

Foreshadowing: Inez was cursed because she knew where the family fortune was hidden.

  • diamonds
  • babette
  • doll shattering
  • treasure
  • dumaine family
Q7

Why does Inez's ghost help Alex's family?

Inez helps Alex's family because they were the first people in a century to believe her and help her break the curse. By solving the riddle and freeing her spirit, Alex showed compassion and integrity. Inez rewards this kindness by giving them the diamonds, enabling the family to restore and preserve the ancestral home that has been in her family for generations.

Foreshadowing: Inez specifically chooses Alex to help her after seeing his genuine curiosity about the mysterious lights.

  • inez ghost
  • treasure
  • family home
  • restoration
  • reward
Q8

How does the crystal ball reveal that Babette is the child of glass?

Blossom and her grandmother use their spiritualist abilities to conduct a vision with the crystal ball. The vision shows Inez as a living child with her mother, who makes Inez promise to care for Babette. This confirms that Babette is the 'child of glass' referenced in the riddle, In the vision, Inez as a child is shown with her mother making her promise to care for the doll, revealing its significance.

Foreshadowing: Blossom is introduced as a superstitious girl raised by her spiritualist grandmother, establishing their connection to the supernatural.

  • crystal ball
  • blossom grandmother
  • vision
  • babette
  • clue
Q9

Why was Inez unable to reveal the treasure location?

In life, Inez was a child bound by a promise to her mother to protect Babette, which contained or represented the treasure. After being murdered, her spirit was cursed to remain on the property by her uncle Jacques, who wanted to ensure she could never tell anyone where the family fortune was hidden.

Foreshadowing: Jacques murdered Inez specifically to prevent her from revealing the treasure location.

  • inez promise
  • treasure location
  • cursed
  • mother
  • babette
Q10

Why does Inez say she has only a day or two to solve the riddle?

Inez explains that the riddle must be solved before All Saints' Day, which is the deadline given by her uncle's curse. If the riddle isn't solved by that time, Inez will remain haunted on the property forever, unable to reunite with her parents in the afterlife.

Foreshadowing: The urgency is established early when Inez first appears and explains her deadline.

  • all saints day
  • deadline
  • curse
  • riddle time limit

Movie threads

More Movies Like Child of Glass, by Mood & Story

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

Gentle Ghost Stories for the Family like Child of Glass

Spooky mysteries that are more about friendly spirits than genuine scares. If you enjoyed the friendly mystery of Child of Glass, you'll like these movies. This section features family-friendly stories where a ghostly presence leads to an adventure, not a horror. Find similar films with gentle spooks, treasure hunts, and happy endings.

  • ghostly
  • mysterious
  • adventurous
  • nostalgic
  • uplifting
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: whimsical, adventurous
  • Pacing: steady, goal-oriented
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a supernatural encounter that introduces a mystery or a quest. The protagonist, often a child, forms a connection with the spirit and works to solve its problem, which might involve finding a lost object or uncovering a secret from the past. The conflict is usually external, like a human villain or a race against time, and culminates in a resolution that brings peace to the ghost and the living characters.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific blend of the supernatural and the familial. They prioritize a sense of wonder, adventure, and heartfelt resolution over horror or dread. The pacing is steady, the intensity is moderate, and the emotional journey is ultimately uplifting, creating a cohesive and accessible viewing experience for all ages.

Child-Led Adventure Mysteries like Child of Glass

Young protagonists uncover secrets and solve puzzles in a nostalgic world. Looking for more movies like Child of Glass where kids take the lead? Discover films featuring young protagonists on exciting quests. These stories focus on friendship, courage, and solving a mystery, often with a nostalgic or historical setting, perfect for family viewing.

  • adventurous
  • friendship-driven
  • nostalgic
  • mysterious
  • coming of age
  • courageous
  • Tone: adventurous, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, clue-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a young protagonist or group of friends who stumble upon a mystery. Driven by a sense of adventure and responsibility, they follow clues, face minor peril, and often outsmart skeptical adults or a tangible villain. The journey strengthens their bonds and builds their confidence, culminating in a success that reinforces themes of bravery and ingenuity.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are connected by their central focus on a child's adventurous spirit. They capture the specific feeling of a youth-led investigation, where the stakes feel high to the characters but the overall tone remains light and hopeful. The steady pacing and medium intensity create a sense of a manageable but exciting challenge, making the resolution feel earned and satisfying.

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Movies Like Child of Glass

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Every angle

Child of Glass (1978) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Child of Glass 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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