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Timeline

Dollar (1938) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1938 · 78 mins · Swedish
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Directed by
Gustaf Molander
Starring
Ingrid Bergman, Georg Rydeberg, Erland Colliander, Gösta Cederlund, Helge Kihlberg, Edvin Adolphson

Ludvig and Sussi Battwyhl, Louis and Katja Brenner, and Julia and Kurt Balzar are affluent millionaires who, despite having no apparent occupations, gather for a mountain vacation. Their stay becomes a tangled web of romantic liaisons among the couples, further complicated when a wealthy American woman arrives to join the group.

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 Dollar
  6. 6 Every angle
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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Dollar Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Dollar (1938) 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. Royal Yacht Club prelude

    Ludvig von Battwyhl confers with Andersson, a hotel valet, as an exclusive evening unfolds. The phone rings with news that Louis Brenner will not arrive, hinting at trouble hidden behind the social façade. The moment sets the stage for the entangled relationships among the couples.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Royal Yacht Club
  2. Balzars' villa gathering

    Ludvig's social circle tightens as Katja and Sussi Brenner join Julia, the wealthy actress who is married to Kurt Balzar. The gathering underscores the delicate alliances of the couples while they discuss a joint vacation at the Åre ski resort. Julia's presence hints at shifting loyalties to come.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Balzars' residence
  3. Louis's gambling ruin

    At a nearby casino, Louis Brenner is revealed as a compulsive gambler who has lost over 50,000 kronor. The mounting debt strains his marriage and friendships, foreshadowing financial entanglements yet to be resolved. The casino scene exposes the personal demons simmering beneath polite appearances.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Casino
  4. Åre ski resort plans

    The three couples agree to vacation together at the Åre ski resort, seeking a new start away from their day-to-day tensions. The trip will bind them in a shared space where secrets can emerge and old resentments flare. The plan places everyone on a single stage for the drama to unfold.

    When
    Next day
    Where
    Åre ski resort
  5. Sussi's illness and the debt gesture

    Brenner learns that his wife Sussi has fallen ill, triggering a response to cover Louis's losses. Louis writes a cheque to his gambling opponent, promising to bear the debt himself. The financial move adds urgency to the personal strains pressing the marriage.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Brenner's residence / casino vicinity
  6. Louis confronts Julia

    Louis returns and, furious that his wife lied, tells Julia about his gambling debts but rejects her help. The confrontation exposes fragile trust within the group and signals how far the debts have reached. The moment intensifies the pressure on all four relationships.

    When
    Next day
    Where
    Balzars' residence
  7. Kurt refuses to cover the debt

    Before leaving the Balzars' residence, Kurt Balzar tells Julia he will not cover Louis's gambling debt, driven by jealousy over Julia's affections for Louis. The denial compounds the financial risks and the couples' entanglements. The moment cements a rift that must be resolved later.

    When
    Next day
    Where
    Balzars' residence
  8. Stocks and the funds to cover losses

    The following day, Julia learns from Ludvig that her husband's company shares are slipping in the stock market. She calls the bank to prevent 200 shares from being sold. Ludvig writes a cheque to cover their losses, which Julia then gives to Sussi to pay off Louis's debt.

    When
    Next day
    Where
    Stock market / bank
  9. Sussi's blizzard ordeal and clinic

    During a blizzard near the ski resort, Sussi wanders outside and is picked up by a couple who drive her back to the resort, where she can no longer walk. Karin the nurse tends to her, and Dr. Jonson treats an ill infant nearby as Mary Jonston arrives and diagnoses Sussi with severe psychological distress. The crisis shifts the story toward psychological stakes.

    When
    Blizzard night
    Where
    Ski resort / medical clinic
  10. The 12-hour cure wager

    Mary Jonston, a wealthy American psychoanalyst, bets with Dr. Jonson that he can cure Sussi's paralysis within 12 hours, offering 10 free stays if he wins and threatening marriage if she wins. The wager creates mounting tension as Julia arrives at the clinic and Sussi overhears the conversation. The personal dynamics among the couples become a live experiment.

    When
    During wager
    Where
    Clinic
  11. Group psychoanalysis and Julia's cheque

    In a charged psychoanalytic session, Mary reveals that Julia wrote the cheque using Ludvig's money, driven by his love for Sussi. Ludvig confirms his involvement, though the motives are complex, and the truth unsettles the group. Sussi tearily admits her fragility, then briefly regains her strength and walks again.

    When
    Within 18 hours
    Where
    Clinic
  12. Jonson's betrayal revealed and wager dropped

    Back in his office, Dr. Jonson corrects Mary, stating that Katja's money funded Louis's debt, not Ludvig's. He calls off the wager and prepares to leave the resort, provoking Mary's anger. The revelation shifts the power dynamics among the four couples.

    When
    After psychoanalytic session
    Where
    Jonson's office / resort
  13. Ending: reconciliation and confession

    In their hotel room, Julia and Kurt reconcile, while Mary knocks on the door and declares her love for Dr. Jonson, who accepts with a kiss. The mood softens as the complicated relationships settle into a fragile peace, with new romantic tensions left unresolved.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Hotel room

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:15

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Timeline questions answered

Dollar Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Dollar (1938): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Sussi become paralyzed after the blizzard?

Sussi developed psychosomatic paralysis due to severe psychological distress. After being caught in the blizzard and brought back to the resort, she lost the ability to walk. Mary Jonston diagnosed her condition as psychological rather than physical, stemming from the emotional turmoil in her marriage to Louis and the stress caused by the gambling debt situation.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish tension in the Brenner marriage, with Sussi learning about Louis's gambling and feeling betrayed.

  • sussi paralysis
  • psychological distress
  • blizzard
  • psychosomatic illness
  • mary jonston
Q2

Who paid off Louis's gambling debt?

The cheque used to pay Louis's gambling debt was ultimately from Katja Brenner's money, not Ludvig's as initially believed. Julia had presented the cheque to Sussi to settle the debt, but the truth was later revealed by Dr. Jonson that it was Katja who provided the funds.

Foreshadowing: Julia learned that her husband's company shares were declining, suggesting financial strain that would make the Balzars unable to easily cover the debt.

  • cheque
  • gambling debt
  • katja
  • payment
  • louis brenner
Q3

Why did Ludvig agree to help pay Louis's gambling debt?

Ludvig agreed to help because he was in love with Sussi Brenner. During Mary's psychoanalytic session, she revealed that Ludvig had feelings for Sussi, which motivated his willingness to provide the funds, even though he was already married to Katja.

Foreshadowing: Ludvig's quiet conversations and interactions with Sussi throughout the film hint at his emotional connection to her.

  • ludvig
  • sussi
  • love
  • feelings
  • gambling debt
Q4

What was Mary Jonston's wager with Dr. Jonson?

Mary Jonston bet Dr. Jonson that he could not cure Sussi's paralysis within 12 hours. If he succeeded, she would donate 10 free stays to his clinic. If she won, Dr. Jonson would have to marry her. The wager was ultimately called off when Dr. Jonson revealed the true source of the money.

Foreshadowing: Mary arrived at the resort claiming expertise in psychoanalysis and immediately began analyzing others' psychological conditions.

  • wager
  • mary jonston
  • dr jonson
  • cure
  • 12 hours
Q5

Why did Sussi recover from her paralysis?

Sussi recovered after confronting the emotional truths revealed during Mary's psychoanalytic session. When Julia's involvement with the cheque and Ludvig's feelings were exposed, Sussi became emotionally overwhelmed, broke down in tears, and then managed to stand up and walk again. The psychological breakthrough allowed her to overcome the psychosomatic paralysis.

Foreshadowing: Sussi overheard Julia and Louis talking in the clinic hallway, which added to her emotional distress before the group session.

  • recovery
  • walking
  • tears
  • emotional breakthrough
  • paralysis cure
Q6

Why was the money actually from Katja, not Ludvig?

Although Julia presented a cheque that appeared to come from Ludvig's account, Dr. Jonson later clarified that the funds were actually Katja Brenner's money. The confusion arose because Julia had arranged the payment, but the source of the funds was different from what was initially believed.

Foreshadowing: Julia learned from Ludvig about her husband's declining shares, suggesting the Balzars themselves were financially stressed.

  • katja
  • money source
  • cheque
  • confusion
  • funds
Q7

How did Julia and Kurt reconcile after their marital tension?

Julia and Kurt reconciled after the truth about the cheque and the emotional turmoil at the clinic was resolved. Julia went to their hotel room where they discussed everything, and Kurt accepted her explanations about helping Sussi and covering the debt, allowing their marriage to heal.

Foreshadowing: Kurt had refused to cover Louis's debt earlier due to jealousy over Julia's apparent affection for Louis.

  • julia
  • kurt
  • reconciliation
  • marriage
  • hotel room
Q8

Why did Mary Jonston pursue Dr. Jonson?

Mary Jonston was romantically interested in Dr. Jonson throughout the resort stay. After her wager failed and Jonson prepared to leave, Mary knocked on Julia and Kurt's door to complain about his "betrayal." Julia reassured her that Jonson loved her, and Mary then confessed her love to him, leading to a kiss and romantic resolution.

Foreshadowing: Mary had been flirting with Dr. Jonson since arriving at the resort and diagnosing everyone around her.

  • mary jonston
  • dr jonson
  • romance
  • love
  • confession
Q9

Why did Sussi lock herself in her room after learning about the cheque?

After Sussi learned from Ludvig that Julia had written the cheque, she caught Louis eavesdropping on their conversation. Insulted by what she perceived as distrust and deception from both Louis and Julia, Sussi locked herself in her room, deepening the crisis in her marriage.

Foreshadowing: Sussi had previously asked Ludvig who wrote the cheque, showing her suspicion about the financial help.

  • sussi
  • locked room
  • eavesdropping
  • insult
  • marriage crisis
Q10

Why did Sussi wander out into the blizzard?

The film suggests Sussi may have been attempting to harm herself through exposure to the freezing conditions. When Mary conducted her psychoanalysis, she confronted Sussi about trying to "freeze herself to death," though Sussi tearfully denied this accusation.

Foreshadowing: The emotional strain from the gambling debt revelation and her failing marriage created desperate feelings in Sussi.

  • blizzard
  • self-harm
  • depression
  • sussi
  • attempt

Movie threads

More Movies Like Dollar, by Mood & Story

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

Sophisticated Romantic Comedies like Dollar

Stylish and playful stories of love and mischief among the wealthy. If you enjoyed the breezy, upper-class romance and witty interplay in Dollar, you'll love these movies. This collection features charming comedies of manners set in stylish locales, where love triangles and social foibles create a delightful and uplifting viewing experience.

  • sophisticated
  • romantic
  • lighthearted
  • whimsical
  • playful
  • uplifting
  • Tone: light, whimsical, romantic
  • Pacing: steady, conversational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically revolve around a group of affluent characters, often on holiday or in an exclusive setting, whose romantic pursuits become entangled. Misunderstandings, flirtations, and sometimes a central wager drive the plot forward, all leading to a harmonious and satisfying conclusion where the right couples end up together.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared LIGHT tone, sophisticated atmosphere, and focus on romantic rivalries within a playful, low-stakes context. They deliver an uplifting experience through clever dialogue, whimsical situations, and a ultimately happy resolution for the characters.

Intricate Ensemble Comedies like Dollar

Stories where interconnected relationships create a delightful narrative web. For viewers who liked the interconnected subplots and character dynamics in Dollar, this section highlights movies with a similar structure. Discover other comedies where a steady pace and moderate complexity allow multiple romantic and social storylines to unfold in a cohesive and entertaining way.

  • gossipy
  • playful
  • intertwined
  • social
  • ensemble
  • clever
  • Tone: lighthearted, gossipy, playful
  • Pacing: steady, flowing
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves introducing an ensemble cast—often couples or a group of friends—whose relationships are tested by new arrivals, hidden secrets, or unusual bets. The plot unfolds steadily, revealing connections and resolving misunderstandings, without ever becoming overly dramatic, ensuring a MODERATE level of complexity that is engaging yet accessible.

Why they belong together: These films share a STEADY pacing and MODERATE narrative complexity, focusing on the domino effect of social interactions within a contained group. The similarity lies in the clever construction of the plot and the lighthearted handling of potentially serious themes like infidelity or rivalry.

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Every angle

Dollar (1938) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Dollar in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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