Danger – Love at Work

Danger – Love at Work

Year: 1937

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: English

Director: Otto Preminger

ComedyRomance

DELICIOUS…DE-LOONEY but oh, so darned romantic! A New York City lawyer finds himself falling in love with the daughter of a screwball South Carolina family.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Danger – Love at Work (1937)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Danger – Love at Work (1937). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Aiken, South Carolina, New York City

The story centers on the Pemberton estate in Aiken, South Carolina, where the land sale drives the plot. The family later travels to New York City, introducing a clash between provincial wealth and urban ambition. The Pemberton home and surrounding countryside serve as the backdrop for mistaken identities, family meddling, and the rush to secure signatures on the land documents.

🏡 Southern setting 🗽 Urban scenes 🚂 Train travel

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:23

Main Characters – Danger – Love at Work (1937)

Meet the key characters of Danger – Love at Work (1937), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Henry Throckmorton MacMorrow (Jack Haley)

A courteous, amiable junior partner who finds himself the target of mistaken identity and family scrutiny. He navigates social misperceptions with patience and integrity, trying to secure the land signatures without compromising his values. His growing affection for Toni anchors the romance at the story’s center.

💼 Lawyer ❤️ Romantic 🛡️ Honest

Antoinette "Toni" Pemberton (Ann Sothern)

A witty, generous young woman who falls for Henry after a comical first encounter. She believes in helping Henry and protecting his reputation, even as her family misreads his intentions. Toni proves brave in pursuing love and in challenging social expectations.

💖 Romantic 👩‍💼 Determined 🏡 Family-oriented

Howard Rogers (Edward Everett Horton)

A shrewd, money-driven rival who suspects Henry of deception. He pushes for a quick land deal, motivated by greed and control, and his actions catalyze the central conflict. His later realization reframes his priorities and the outcome of the land dispute.

💼 Ambitious 🧠 Cunning 🥇 Competitive

Herbert Pemberton (John Carradine)

The patriarchal member of the Pemberton family, his presence anchors the family’s social position. He participates in the negotiations and family dynamics that drive the plot, balancing tradition with new possibilities.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Patriarch 💬 Traditional 🧭 Steady

Mrs. Alice Pemberton (Mary Boland)

A matronly figure whose perspectives on wealth, status, and propriety influence family decisions. She embodies the social pressures that shape Toni and Henry’s choices.

🏠 Socially conscious 👩‍👧‍👦 Family-first 🗣️ Persuasive

Aunt Pitty Pemberton (Margaret Seddon)

A family elder whose opinions and remarks color the household dynamics. She contributes to the comedic and affectionate tone of the household interactions.

😂 Humorous 🗣️ Sagacious 🏡 Homey

Aunt Patty Pemberton (Margaret McWade)

Another elder relative whose presence adds to the bustling, opinionated family atmosphere. Her reactions help propel the plot and the family’s gossip-driven humor.

😂 Humorous 🗣️ Insightful 🏡 Domestic

Junior Pemberton (Benny Bartlett)

A precocious ten-year-old prodigy whose antics create comic havoc and challenge the adults’ patience. His behavior leads to memorable, humorous moments that complicate social pretenses.

🎒 Mischievous 🧠 Bright 🧩 Playful

Uncle Goliath Pemberton (Maurice Cass)

A formidable family member whose presence underscores the power dynamics within the Pemberton clan. His reactions and judgments influence how far the family will go to protect their interests.

🗣️ Assertive 🛡️ Protective 🏛️ Formal

Edmond, MacMorrow's valet (Charles Coleman)

The loyal servant who observes and participates in the social play surrounding the MacMorrow family. Edmond provides practical support and serves as a quiet observer of the evolving romance and deception.

🧹 Loyal 🕵️ Observant 🧭 Dependable

Hilton, an attorney (Paul Stanton)

A legal professional involved in the negotiations over the Pemberton land. He represents the formal, procedure-driven side of the plot and helps move the sale process forward.

⚖️ Legal 🧭 Professional 🗂️ Methodical

Parsons, an attorney (Jonathan Hale)

Another attorney whose role centers on the formal signing and enforcement of the land documents. He adds to the courtroom-ready atmosphere of the legal proceedings.

⚖️ Legal 🧠 Sharp 🗒️ Bureaucratic

Gilroy, an attorney (Charles Lane)

A member of the legal team contributing to the negotiations. Gilroy represents the professional side of the property deal and helps complicate the plot with legal maneuvers.

⚖️ Legal 🧩 Strategic 🗂️ Calculated

Albert Pemberton (Etienne Girardot)

A member of the Pemberton family whose presence reinforces the family’s social stature. He participates in gatherings where land and reputation are discussed.

🏛️ Aristocratic 🗣️ Observant 🏷️ Status

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:23

Major Themes – Danger – Love at Work (1937)

Explore the central themes of Danger – Love at Work (1937), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Romance

Romance develops between Henry MacMorrow and Toni Pemberton amid misunderstandings and social expectations. Toni believing Henry to be impoverished prompts acts of generosity and devotion, while Henry's genuine character helps him win her trust. The relationship faces pressure from family opinions and competing interests, but culminates in mutual commitment.

💼 Deception

A central thread is the belief that Henry is a con artist or socially untenable due to appearances and misread signals. Howard and the family are swayed by surface impressions, leading to a scramble over land and money. The oil clue, though a mistaken attribution, intensifies the misunderstanding and accelerates the plot toward resolution.

👪 Family

A large, meddlesome family drives much of the comedy and conflict, with aunts, uncles, and cousins weighing in on Henry and Toni's fate. Family loyalties clash with business interests and romantic plans, creating tension and humor. Ultimately, the clan must reckon with what truly matters: honesty, love, and a stable union.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:23

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Screwball whirlwind romances like Danger – Love at Work

Fast-paced comedies where love blossoms through chaos and madcap antics.If you enjoyed the rapid-fire chaos and romantic misunderstandings of Danger – Love at Work, you'll love these movies. This section features classic and modern screwball comedies with fast pacing, eccentric families, and couples who find love through humorous schemes and delightful confusion.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a predictable but joyous pattern: two often-opposed leads are thrown into a series of increasingly absurd situations, usually involving deception or a clash of worlds (e.g., city vs. country). The plot is driven by coincidences and misunderstandings that create temporary conflict but ultimately serve to highlight the couple's chemistry, leading to a guaranteed happy union.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared commitment to lighthearted, high-energy fun. They prioritize clever humor and romantic tension over deep drama, creating a cohesive experience defined by fast pacing, a whimsical tone, and the specific narrative trope of love flourishing in spite of, and because of, complete chaos.

Movies with quirky families like the one in Danger – Love at Work

Stories where a bizarre but lovable family causes delightful chaos for an outsider.Fans of the delightfully odd Pemberton family will enjoy these stories centered around eccentric clans. Discover movies like Danger – Love at Work where a quirky family's charmingly bizarre behavior turns an outsider's world upside down, creating heartwarming and hilarious situations.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around the 'fish out of water' trope. A sensible protagonist enters the orbit of a chaotic, unconventional family. The family's antics—whether financial schemes, creative pursuits, or simply bizarre daily routines—initially cause confusion and conflict but ultimately reveal a core of warmth and loyalty that wins over the outsider, often leading to their integration into the family fold.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific character-driven vibe: the joy of watching an eccentric, cohesive family unit through the eyes of an newcomer. The similarity lies in the lighthearted tone, the focus on character quirks as a source of humor and plot, and the theme of finding belonging in a wonderfully weird world.

Unlock the Full Story of Danger – Love at Work

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Danger – Love at Work Summary

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Danger – Love at Work Summary

Danger – Love at Work Timeline

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Danger – Love at Work Timeline

Danger – Love at Work Spoiler-Free Summary

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Danger – Love at Work Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Danger – Love at Work

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

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