Colleen

Year: 1936

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: Alfred E. Green

RomanceDrama

DICK POWELL Starts Singing…RUBY KEELER Starts Tapping… Musical about dingaling millionaire businessman Cedric Ames and his various employees

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Colleen (1936) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Colleen (1936), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Cedric Ames is the absent-minded and easily distracted president of a large business, with much of the operation run by his subordinates, including his nephew Donald Ames. When Cedric impulsively hires an assistant named Joe Cork, the new man quickly spots his boss as an easy mark.

During a tour of a candy company housed in one of the buildings he owns, Cedric meets Minnie Hawkins, a “chocolate dipper” who seems to have bigger ambitions. Influenced by his new assistant, he buys a dress shop for Minnie to manage, even though she’s portrayed as a gold digger. Donald tries to fix things by going to the dress shop to examine the books.

Colleen Reilly, the dress shop’s bookkeeper, is furious when Donald plans to close the shop. When newspaper headlines shout about “the businessman who bought a dress shop for a chocolate dipper,” Colleen seizes the moment to stage a fashion show. The spectacle draws in customers and begins to make the shop profitable for the first time. Colleen convinces Donald to keep the shop open. Donald invites her to dinner to discuss her plans, and she agrees—only to reveal that she is unexpectedly engaged to Joe Cork.

Joe begins to see Minnie, and the two conspire to have Cedric adopt Minnie so that Joe can marry her. Gossip columns soon pick up the story, shocking Alicia Ames and prompting Donald to close the shop. Yet love between Colleen and Donald persists, while Minnie and Joe are both fired.

In a bid for revenge, Minnie sues Cedric for five million dollars for breaking his promise to adopt her, and Joe sues Donald for five million dollars for stealing Colleen. Both settlements are bridged with $25,000 apiece. Colleen is fired by mistake and receives a check for $10,000 to drop any legal claims.

Donald tries to reach Colleen by phone to propose again, but she berates him and hangs up, devastated. Brokenhearted, she accepts an offer to open a dress shop on an ocean liner. It turns out Donald is aboard the same ship, along with Cedric and his wife, and the trio’s tensions soften as they reconnect. In the end, Colleen and Donald find each other again and become engaged, signaling a hopeful, if winding, conclusion to a comic saga of romance, ambition, and misadventure.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:29

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Screwball Musical Romances like Colleen

Lighthearted tales where love gets tangled in whimsical, fast-paced chaos.If you liked the mischievous charm and romantic hijinks of Colleen, you'll enjoy these movies. This section features films that blend musical numbers with screwball comedy, offering lighthearted stories about love, mistaken identities, and spirited reunions, all with an upbeat, 1930s-inspired flair.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically revolves around a central romantic pairing, often separated by class or circumstance, who are thrown together by a series of comical misunderstandings, financial schemes, or societal gossip. The plot progresses through a chain of amusing events and set pieces, including musical numbers, that escalate the comedic tension before everything resolves in a happy and often public reconciliation.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a unique blend of genre conventions: the rapid-fire dialogue and situational humor of screwball comedy, combined with the expressive, emotional release of musical numbers. They maintain a consistently light tone, steady pacing, and focus on the playful, rather than painful, aspects of romantic pursuit.

Movies with Upbeat Romantic Misunderstandings like Colleen

Stories where love overcomes comical deceptions and social blunders.Find more delightful comedies like Colleen where love triumphs over amusing confusion. These movies feature gold diggers, mistaken identities, and business schemes that complicate romance, all handled with a light touch and culminating in a satisfying, happy conclusion for the central couple.

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Narrative Summary

The plot follows a predictable but enjoyable arc: an initial attraction is complicated by a lie or misunderstanding, which then snowballs into a larger comedic crisis. Supporting characters often fuel the confusion. The resolution involves a moment of truth and reconciliation, where the deception is forgiven, strengthening the bond between the lovers and often resulting in a public or celebratory union.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their focus on comedy derived from relational miscommunication rather than external threats. They prioritize a light emotional weight and a happy ending, making them perfect for viewers seeking an uplifting and amusing experience where love, despite some silly obstacles, always wins.

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Colleen Timeline

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Colleen

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Colleen Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Colleen

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