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Divorce American Style (1967) movie poster

Timeline

Divorce American Style (1967) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1967 · 109 mins · English
Directed by
Bud Yorkin
Starring
Martin Gabel, Eileen Brennan, Byron Kane, Dick Van Dyke, Lee Grant, Jason Robards

If you thought divorce was ugly, try marriage! After 17 years of marriage in American suburbia, Richard and Barbara Harmon step into the new world of divorce.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (12)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Divorce American Style
  5. 5 Every angle

12 events in order · contains spoilers

Divorce American Style Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Divorce American Style (1967) 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. Marital strife and decision to divorce

    After 17 years of marriage, Richard and Barbara seem to have it all, but constant bickering undermines their relationship. They try counseling, but resentment grows as they discover they are secretly draining their joint bank accounts. The spark fades and they decide to file for divorce.

    When
    early in the timeline
    Where
    Los Angeles suburbs
  2. Financial blow of divorce

    Richard's take-home income is dramatically reduced by alimony, and he moves into a small apartment. He struggles to survive on about $87 per week, even counting the 67-cent hamburger he buys at McDonald's. The financial squeeze underscores the stakes of the divorce.

    When
    shortly after filing
    Where
    Los Angeles
  3. Richard meets Nelson Downes and Nancy

    Richard befriends Nelson Downes, a recently divorced man who introduces him to ex-wife Nancy. Nelson hopes to marry Nancy to be free of alimony burdens while Nancy is lonely and seeking companionship. The dynamic sets the stage for a shared, wealth-focused plot.

    When
    shortly after meeting
    Where
    LA area
  4. The plan to end alimony with Barbara and Big Al

    Nelson and Nancy hatch a plan to connect Barbara with a millionaire automobile dealer, Big Al Yearling, hoping this will resolve Richard's alimony woes. The pair also reveals a romantic impulse of their own, as they begin a relationship with each other.

    When
    during the planning stage
    Where
    LA
  5. Barbara's indirect involvement and social scheming

    Barbara becomes part of the social circuit where she might meet Big Al, as the others organize meetings and settings to nudge fate toward a remarriage. The networking intensifies the pressure on their fragile arrangements.

    When
    leading up to the nightclub meetup
    Where
    Various social settings in LA
  6. Nightclub meetup to celebrate the plots

    The night before the Harmon divorce becomes final, the three couples gather at a nightclub to celebrate the supposed success of their schemes. They bask in the idea of a fresh start and the prospect of improved finances.

    When
    the night before final divorce
    Where
    Nightclub in LA
  7. Hypnotist Pat Collins pulls Barbara

    Pat Collins, a real-life hypnotist, pulls Barbara from the audience and puts her into a trance. Under hypnosis, she is made to perform a mock striptease, revealing how easily their plans can be manipulated by outside forces.

    When
    during the night
    Where
    Nightclub stage
  8. Barbara obeys a hypnotic kiss order

    In a hypnotic trance, Barbara is instructed to kiss her true love, creating a charged moment that tests the couples' supposed arrangements. The moment masquerades as a test of love under manipulation.

    When
    during the hypnotic act
    Where
    Nightclub
  9. Kiss rekindles real love

    Barbara plants a real kiss on Richard, and both realize they still love each other deeply. The moment makes it clear they cannot go through with the divorce.

    When
    immediately after the kiss
    Where
    Nightclub floor
  10. Nelson's continued maneuvering

    Despite the emotional turn, Nelson remains determined and immediately tries to secure Nancy's interest in Big Al, keeping his own alimony concerns in play. The plans continue to be shuffled as feelings surface.

    When
    right after the kiss
    Where
    Nightclub
  11. Decision to salvage the marriage

    With renewed feelings between Barbara and Richard, the couple decides not to proceed with the divorce. They choose to salvage their marriage and reassess their finances and future together.

    When
    following the nightclub events
    Where
    Harmon home
  12. Aftermath and new footing

    The film closes on the note that relationships in all three couples are in flux, with reconciliation possible but not guaranteed. The story leaves the door open for future changes as they navigate love and money.

    When
    aftermath
    Where
    Los Angeles area

Last updated: March 05, 2026 at 18:40

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Timeline questions answered

Divorce American Style Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Divorce American Style (1967): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why do Richard and Barbara decide to get a divorce after 17 years of marriage?

After 17 years of marriage, Richard and Barbara Harmon were constantly bickering despite their affluent suburban lifestyle. They attempted marriage counseling to save their relationship, but resentment grew when they discovered each was secretly draining their joint bank accounts. The mutual betrayal oftrust eroded whatever connection remained, leading them to file for divorce.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show the couple's trivial arguments masking deeper dissatisfaction with their marriage.

  • divorce
  • marriage
  • bank account
  • counseling
  • betrayal
  • resentment
Q2

Why were both Richard and Barbara secretly draining their joint bank account?

Neither Richard nor Barbara trusted that the marriage would last, so each began secretly withdrawing money for personal security. This act of mutual distrust symbolized the breakdown of their relationship and added to the resentment that ultimately pushed them toward divorce.

  • bank account
  • money
  • distrust
  • savings
  • financial
Q3

How does alimony affect Richard's financial situation after the divorce?

Richard's take-home income is dramatically reduced by alimony payments to Barbara. He moves into a modest apartment, trades his car for a humble VW Beetle, and survives on about $87 per week. Even a 67-cent hamburger at McDonald's becomes a significant expense, showing how drastically his lifestyle changes.

  • alimony
  • financial struggle
  • income
  • poverty
  • lifestyle change
Q4

What is Nelson Downes' plan to avoid paying alimony?

Nelson Downes, recently divorced himself, wants to remarry his ex-wife Nancy so he can stop paying alimony. He also has a pregnant fiancée he wants to marry. By pairing Barbara with millionaire Big Al Yearling, Nelson hopes to eliminate Richard's need for alimony, which would free Nancy to marry him without financial complications.

  • Nelson Downes
  • Nancy
  • alimony
  • Big Al
  • matchmaking
  • scheme
Q5

Why do Nelson and Nancy try to set Barbara up with Big Al Yearling?

Nelson and Nancy orchestrate a relationship between Barbara and Big Al, a wealthy automobile dealer, as part of a mutual escape plan. They hope Barbara will marry Big Al, eliminating Richard's financial burden from alimony. In return, Nancy would be free to marry Nelson, releasing him from his alimony payments.

  • Big Al Yearling
  • millionaire
  • matchmaking
  • marriage scheme
  • financial plan
Q6

What happens when hypnotist Pat Collins calls Barbara on stage at the nightclub?

During the nightclub celebration, real-life hypnotist Pat Collins pulls Barbara from the audience and puts her into a trance. Under hypnosis, she performs a mock striptease and is instructed to kiss her 'true love.' The moment appears to test whether her feelings for Richard are genuine or manipulated.

  • Pat Collins
  • hypnotist
  • nightclub
  • trance
  • stage
  • Barbara
Q7

Why does Barbara kiss Richard while under hypnosis?

When instructed to kiss her true love under hypnosis, Barbara chooses to kiss Richard despite the arranged plans with Big Al. This moment reveals her subconscious still harbors genuine feelings for Richard, suggesting their love was never truly extinguished, only buried under years of petty arguments and financial resentments.

Foreshadowing: The couple's earlier counseling sessions hinted at underlying affection beneath their bickering.

  • kiss
  • hypnosis
  • true love
  • feelings
  • reconciliation
  • Barbara Richard
Q8

Does Barbara's kiss under hypnosis reveal her true feelings for Richard?

Yes, the kiss serves as an emotional turning point. Though Barbara is under hypnosis, her instinctive choice to kiss Richard, not Big Al, demonstrates her subconscious still loves him. This triggers their reconciliation and prevents the divorce from being finalized.

  • hypnosis
  • subconscious
  • feelings
  • love
  • revelation
  • emotional moment
Q9

What happens to Nelson and Nancy's plans after Barbara and Richard reconcile?

Even after Barbara and Richard decide to stay together, Nelson continues trying to interest Nancy in Big Al, showing his determination to escape alimony. The film ends with all three couples' relationships in flux, the future remains uncertain as characters navigate love and money.

  • Nelson
  • Nancy
  • Big Al
  • plans
  • unresolved
  • future
Q10

Why does Barbara choose to reconcile with Richard instead of pursuing Big Al?

Barbara's choice to kiss Richard under hypnosis reveals her authentic emotional attachment to him, not material wealth. Despite Big Al being a wealthy millionaire, Barbara's subconscious prioritizes her genuine connection with Richard over financial security, leading both to rediscover why they married in the first place.

  • Barbara
  • Richard
  • Big Al
  • choice
  • love over money
  • reconciliation
Q11

Do Richard and Barbara remain married at the end of the film?

Yes, Barbara's hypnotic kiss leads Richard and Barbara to reconcile and decide against finalizing their divorce. They choose to work on their marriage and reassess their financial future together, though the film leaves open the question of whether they'll sustain their reconciliation.

  • reconciliation
  • marriage
  • ending
  • divorce
  • happily ever after

Movie threads

More Movies Like Divorce American Style, by Mood & Story

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

Witty Marital Satires like Divorce American Style

Comedies that find the humor in the absurdities of marriage and divorce. A selection of smart comedies that satirize married life, similar to Divorce American Style. If you enjoyed the clever take on suburban matrimony, you'll find more laughs and sharp observations in these films about the battle of the sexes.

  • satirical
  • comical
  • observational
  • relatable
  • romantic
  • hopeful
  • Tone: light, satirical, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, conversational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow a couple (or multiple couples) as they navigate the pitfalls of married life, often leading to separation or divorce. The narrative uses these conflicts as a framework for comedic set-pieces and satirical commentary on social norms, frequently culminating in a reconciliation or a reaffirmation of love's enduring, if complicated, nature.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared comedic approach to the serious subject of marriage. They blend romantic elements with satire, maintain a steady, character-driven pace, and use humor to explore relational dynamics without becoming emotionally heavy, creating a uniquely entertaining and thoughtful vibe.

Hopeful Romantic Comedies like Divorce American Style

Charming stories where love finds a way despite all the comedic chaos. Discover more feel-good romantic comedies with a classic structure, similar to Divorce American Style. These movies feature couples overcoming hilarious hurdles on their way to a happy ending, perfect for when you want a lighthearted and ultimately hopeful story.

  • romantic
  • hopeful
  • comical
  • lighthearted
  • charming
  • feel-good
  • Tone: light, romantic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a predictable but satisfying arc: a stable relationship is disrupted by conflict, leading to a separation filled with comedic misadventures and potential new suitors. The story ultimately brings the original couple back together through a moment of clarity or grand gesture, resolving the tension and delivering a classic happy ending.

Why they belong together: These films share a core DNA of lighthearted romance and high comedic value. They are characterized by a steady pacing that balances character development with jokes, a medium intensity that avoids heavy drama, and a overwhelmingly positive, hopeful emotional tone that leaves the viewer feeling good.

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Every angle

Divorce American Style (1967) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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