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Comin’ Round the Mountain (1951) movie poster

Timeline

Comin’ Round the Mountain (1951) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1951 · 77 mins · English
Directed by
Charles Lamont
Starring
Joe Sawyer, Margaret Hamilton, Hank Worden, O.Z. Whitehead, Russell Simpson, Robert Easton

Al Stewart and Wilbert, a duo of stage magicians, encounter Wilbert’s cousin Dorothy McCoy. They learn that Wilbert’s grandfather, Squeeze‑Box McCoy, hid a treasure in the Kentucky hills, prompting the trio, with their illusion skills, to chase the secret loot.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Comin’ Round the Mountain
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Comin’ Round the Mountain (1951)

Where can you watch Comin’ Round the Mountain? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and Fawesome: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Comin’ Round the Mountain Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Comin’ Round the Mountain (1951) 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. Booking and Wilbert's failed escape

    The theatrical agent Al Stewart books Dorothy McCoy, 'The Manhattan Hillbilly', at a New York nightclub, and also books the inept escape artist The Great Wilbert. During Wilbert's performance he cannot escape from his shackles and screams for help. Dorothy recognizes the scream as the infamous 'McCoy clan yell', setting a personal and family-linked tone for the night.

    When
    Night of the show
    Where
    New York nightclub
  2. Discovery of Wilbert's McCoy lineage

    Backstage, a photograph and a concertina prove that Wilbert is the long-lost grandson of 'Squeeze Box' McCoy. Granny McCoy has been hunting for him to reveal where Squeeze Box hid his gold to kinfolk only. The revelation ties Wilbert to the family feud and to the treasure hunt that follows.

    When
    Backstage after the show
    Where
    Dressing room
  3. Kentucky trip and feud origin

    Al, Dorothy, and Wilbert travel to Kentucky where Granny recounts the 60-year-old McCoy-Winfield feud. She explains how the feud began and how the treasure hunt has kept both clans fighting. The family stakes rise as Wilbert's role in the feud becomes clear.

    When
    Following the backstage reveal
    Where
    Kentucky
  4. Turkey shoot decision

    The McCoys select Wilbert to represent them against Devil Dan Winfield in a turkey shoot. Wilbert has never fired a gun, and his inexperience threatens to derail both sides' plans and escalate the feud. The contest marks a pivotal, dangerous shift in the conflict.

    When
    Before the shoot
    Where
    Kentucky
  5. Marriage condition set

    Granny informs Wilbert that he must marry before the treasure's location can be revealed. Kalem, the clan's head, declares Wilbert should marry his 14-year-old daughter Clora to seal the deal. The marriage covenant adds a darkly comic twist to the quest.

    When
    After the feud decision
    Where
    Granny's home
  6. Dorothy's rejection

    Wilbert proposes to Dorothy, but she declines because she loves Clark Winfield. The rejection deepens the tension between the feuding clans and complicates the marriage plan tied to the treasure. The personal romance thread runs parallel to the treasure hunt.

    When
    After the marriage condition
    Where
    Kentucky
  7. Potion quest and voodoo dolls

    Granny sends Wilbert to Aunt Huddy to obtain a love potion. On the way, Huddy and Wilbert craft voodoo dolls of each other and stick pins, causing pain in the other as a side effect of their magic. The sequence blends dark comedy with the growing obsession over love.

    When
    During the potion quest
    Where
    Aunt Huddy's place
  8. Broom escape and initial love

    After obtaining the potion, Wilbert rides Huddy's broom and crashes into a tree. Despite the crash, the potion initially makes Dorothy fall for Wilbert, creating a temporary bond amid the chaos. The magical mishap amplifies the absurdity of the feud plot.

    When
    Immediately after departure
    Where
    Huddy's place
  9. Potion's widening effect

    The potion's effects spread and everyone in the vicinity falls in love, but the spell eventually wears off. Dorothy and Clark plan to marry once the magic fades, keeping the real relationships in play. The town is swept up in a confusion of sudden romances.

    When
    Soon after
    Where
    Local town
  10. Winfield arrival and potion break

    The Winfield clan arrives for a confrontation, and a stray bullet breaks the love potion jar. Devil Dan tastes the potion and falls for Wilbert, heightening the rivalry and complicating the fight for the gold. The love-triangle irony raises the stakes of the looming showdown.

    When
    During the confrontation
    Where
    Kentucky fight site
  11. Treasure map revealed

    Matt reveals the secret to the treasure: a map hidden inside Wilbert's concertina. The map points to a mine in Winfield territory, setting the stage for a bold raid on the family gold. The discovery shifts the conflict from romance to treasure pursuit.

    When
    Revelation during the fight
    Where
    Winfield territory
  12. Mine breakthrough and vault

    Devil Dan helps them enter the mine, and they break through rock to reach a vault filled with gold. Armed guards arrive as the treasure seekers claim their prize, transforming a feuding family feud into a high-stakes escape. The mine becomes the epicenter of the treasure twist.

    When
    Following the map
    Where
    Winfield mine
  13. Fort Knox ending

    The intruders are confronted by armed guards as they break into the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox. The scene culminates in a tense showdown between clans amid glittering gold. The heist ends with capture looming over the characters and the legend of Squeeze Box's gold unresolved in a dramatic twist.

    When
    Ending
    Where
    Fort Knox

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:10

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Timeline questions answered

Comin’ Round the Mountain Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Comin’ Round the Mountain (1951): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Dorothy recognize Wilbert's scream as the McCoy clan yell?

Dorothy recognizes Wilbert's shrill cry from his failed escape act as the famous McCoy clan yell, a distinctive family battle cry passed down through generations. She has heard this same yell at McCoy family gatherings, making it instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the clan.

Foreshadowing: The climax earlier hints at familial ties when Wilbert first takes the stage.

  • mccoy clan yell
  • dorothy
  • recognition
  • escape act
Q2

Why must Wilbert marry before getting the treasure map?

Granny McCoy reveals that Squeeze-Box McCoy placed a condition on his hidden gold: his grandson must marry to continue the family bloodline before the treasure location can be revealed. This marriage requirement is tied to the family's legacy and ensuring the McCoy lineage continues.

  • marriage condition
  • granny mccoy
  • treasure map
  • squeeze-box mccoy
Q3

Why did the McCoys want Wilbert to marry a 14-year-old?

Kalem McCoy, the clan head, declared that Wilbert should marry his 14-year-old daughter Clora to fulfill the marriage condition for the treasure. This comically inappropriate proposal reflects the hillbilly stereotype humor of the era and creates conflict since Wilbert is in love with Dorothy.

  • kalem mccoy
  • 14 year old
  • marriage
  • clora mccoy
Q4

How did the love potion end up affecting everyone in town?

Wilbert obtained a love potion from Aunt Huddy to win Dorothy's affection. However, when Dorothy drank it, the spell spread to everyone who took a sip in the vicinity, causing the entire town to fall in love randomly. The potion's magic was more powerful and widespread than intended, creating chaotic romance throughout the community.

  • love potion
  • aunt huddy
  • magic
  • dorothy
  • town spell
Q5

Why did Devil Dan help Wilbert and the McCoys find the mine?

After tasting the love potion that had been spilled by a stray bullet, Devil Dan Winfield unexpectedly fell in love with Wilbert. This magical affection caused the sworn enemy of the McCoys to switch sides and assist them in entering the mine on Winfield territory, effectively ending the feud through the potion's absurd effect.

Foreshadowing: The potion was meant to win Dorothy's heart but instead won Devil Dan's.

  • devil dan winfield
  • love potion
  • mine
  • help
  • truce
Q6

Why was the treasure map hidden inside Wilbert's concertina?

Matt reveals that Squeeze-Box McCoy hid the treasure map inside Wilbert's own concertina, the same instrument Wilbert had been carrying throughout the entire journey without knowing its significance. The map pointed to a mine located on Winfield territory, making the treasure both a McCoy family heirloom and a prize within enemy land.

  • concertina
  • treasure map
  • matt
  • squeeze-box mccoy
  • mine
Q7

Why did the treasure hunt lead to Fort Knox?

The map hidden in Wilbert's concertina led the group to a mine on Winfield territory. After blasting through rock, they discovered the vault actually contained the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, making the legendary McCoy treasure government gold. The scene ends with armed guards confronting the would-be treasure seekers, who face arrest for breaking into the national gold depository.

Foreshadowing: The map pointed to a mine in Winfield territory, but the true location was far more secured.

  • fort knox
  • gold depository
  • treasure
  • arrest
  • mine
Q8

What started the McCoy-Winfield feud?

Granny McCoy recounts that the McCoy-Winfield feud began approximately 60 years before the story takes place. The bitter conflict revolved around the hidden gold and ongoing rivalry between the two families, with both clans fighting for control of the treasure and territory.

  • mccoy
  • winfield
  • feud
  • granny
  • gold
  • rivalry
Q9

Why did Dorothy reject Wilbert's marriage proposal?

Wilbert proposed to Dorothy after learning about the marriage condition required to obtain the treasure map, but Dorothy rejected him because she was already in love with Clark Winfield. Her romantic feelings for Clark predated the treasure hunt and the magical chaos caused by the love potion.

  • dorothy
  • wilbert
  • proposal
  • clark winfield
  • rejection
Q10

What happened when the love potion's effects wore off?

The love potion's spell eventually faded, causing the magical romances to end. Dorothy's feelings returned to her true love, Clark Winfield, and the two began making wedding plans. This reversal restored the natural order of relationships and set up the romantic resolution between the McCoys and Winfields.

  • love potion
  • magic fades
  • dorothy
  • clark
  • wedding

Movie threads

More Movies Like Comin’ Round the Mountain, by Mood & Story

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

Fast-paced treasure hunt comedies like Comin’ Round the Mountain

Chaotic chases for hidden loot, driven by bumbling heroes and absurd clues. If you liked the chaotic treasure hunt in Comin’ Round the Mountain, you'll enjoy these movies. This list features comedies where bumbling adventurers chase hidden loot, leading to slapstick fun, whimsical misadventures, and lighthearted resolutions.

  • treasure hunt
  • slapstick
  • bumbling heroes
  • whimsical
  • lighthearted
  • chaotic adventure
  • Tone: whimsical, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically revolves around a dubious map or family legend that prompts an unlikely group of heroes to embark on a quest. The journey is filled with comical obstacles, misunderstandings, and rival treasure hunters, all building towards a playful reveal that often mocks the initial greed or ambition.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their core plot engine—a comedic treasure hunt—and their shared light, playful tone. They prioritize humor and whimsical adventure over genuine peril, creating a consistently fun and undemanding viewing experience.

Comedies with magical mishaps like Comin’ Round the Mountain

Stories where spells, potions, or stage tricks cause hilarious romantic and social chaos. Fans of the love potion chaos in Comin’ Round the Mountain will find more to love here. These movies feature whimsical stories where magic or trickery leads to romantic mix-ups, silly misunderstandings, and a generally playful, fast-paced comic vibe.

  • magic mishaps
  • love potion
  • whimsical
  • farcical
  • romantic chaos
  • silly
  • Tone: whimsical, silly
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is driven by a magical intervention that disrupts the normal social order, typically around romance. Characters find themselves in absurd situations dictated by the magic, leading to a series of comedic set pieces before the spell is broken or the trick revealed, resulting in a happy and harmonious conclusion.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their use of light magical elements as a primary source of comedy. The shared vibe is one of whimsical chaos, where the stakes are emotional and humorous rather than dark or dangerous, appealing to a love for playful, farcical storytelling.

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Every angle

Comin’ Round the Mountain (1951) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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