Close to My Heart

Close to My Heart

Year: 1951

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: William Keighley

Drama

‘Close to My Heart’ is a picture that will always be close to yours! A journalist’s wife insists on adopting an abandoned child.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Close to My Heart 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 & Setting – Close to My Heart (1951)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Close to My Heart (1951). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Brad and Midge's home, San Quentin State Prison, Reno (Nevada), Police station, Adoption agency, Boarding house

Most of the film unfolds within a mid-sized American city and the surrounding institutions that govern family life. The Sheridans' home sits beside offices of the adoption agency, the juvenile court, and the public police station, illustrating how private longing collides with public rules. A boarding house and the penitentiary add grit and danger to the investigation into Danny's past. The setting blends intimate domestic space with impersonal institutions, driving the drama.

🏙️ Urban setting 💔 Adoption drama 🔎 Investigation 🏛️ Legal system

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:48

Main Characters – Close to My Heart (1951)

Meet the key characters of Close to My Heart (1951), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Brad Sheridan (Ray Milland)

A newspaper columnist and husband who desperately wants a family but is initially cautious about adopting Danny. His investigative instinct leads him to uncover the child's history, even at the risk of alienating his wife. His determination to reveal the truth is tempered by a growing sense of responsibility for Danny's future.

📰 Journalist

Midge Sheridan (Gene Tierney)

Brad's wife, emotionally invested in adopting Danny and forming a family. She forms a deep bond with the foundling and represents the nurturing instinct that clashes with Brad's investigative drive. Her protective instincts push the couple toward a decisive, compassionate outcome.

💖 Wife

Danny

A foundling whose uncertain background drives the central conflict. He becomes the emotional focal point for both Brad and Midge, around whom the couple's choices revolve. His presence catalyzes debates about nature, nurture, and the responsibilities of would-be parents.

👶 Foundling

Mrs. Morrow (Fay Bainter)

Adoption agency official who counsels Brad and Midge and warns about the risks of adopting Danny without fully verifying his background. She represents institutional caution and the weight of regulatory processes.

🏢 Adoption agency

Arlene (Mary Beth Hughes)

A boarding-house resident who shapes Brad's understanding of Danny's past by sharing a false narrative about Martha and the child's origins. Her deception complicates the investigation and highlights how easily rumors can distort truth.

🗣️ Gossip

Everett Heilner (Edward Hewitt)

A former partner of Martha and the man whose past Brad suspects influenced Danny's fate. In prison, he dismisses fatherhood as irrelevant to Danny's future, underscoring the opposing views of nature and nurture.

🏛️ Criminal past

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:48

Major Themes – Close to My Heart (1951)

Explore the central themes of Close to My Heart (1951), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💞 Adoption

The story centers on Brad and Midge's longing to become parents and the moral complexities of taking in a child with an uncertain background. The adoption process is portrayed as both a hopeful path and a minefield of risk, where intent must navigate real-world safeguards. The couple's emotional stakes clash with agency cautions and courtroom decisions.

🔎 Investigation

Brad's relentless digging into the child's past drives the plot, uncovering details that challenge the couple's assumptions. The pursuit of truth tests trust and reveals how information can shape or ruin a family’s future. Arlene's lies and Everett Heilner's shadowy history complicate what is known about Danny's origins.

🤝 Trust

Trust is earned through compassion rather than bloodlines; the film argues that nurture can outweigh perceived heredity. Midge's emotional attachment to Danny contrasts with Brad's investigative impulse, culminating in a decision that prioritizes the child's welfare over sensational revelations. The ending reinforces the power of chosen family and redemption.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:48

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Unlock the Full Story of Close to My Heart

Don't stop at just watching — explore Close to My Heart 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 Close to My Heart is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Close to My Heart Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Close to My Heart, 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.

Close to My Heart Summary

Close to My Heart Timeline

Track the full timeline of Close to My Heart with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Close to My Heart Timeline

More About Close to My Heart

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Close to My Heart: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Close to My Heart

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