Year: 1948
Runtime: 90 mins
Language: English
Director: Claude Binyon
Grant Jordan, a bachelor botany professor, marries widowed Katie, who has three children, despite the scheming of his former girlfriend Minna. On their wedding day Aunt Jo, the scheduled babysitter, breaks her leg, so the kids tag along on the honeymoon, turning the romantic getaway into a chaotic family adventure.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Family Honeymoon yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Family Honeymoon (1948), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Katie Armstrong Claudette Colbert is a young widow and mother to three children — Charlie Jimmy Hunt, Abner Peter Miles, and Zoe Gigi Perreau. She is also engaged to Grant Jordan Fred MacMurray, a botany professor at the university who is trying to secure funds for a new botany research building. To win support, he hopes to win over the campus’s influential chancellor, Chancellor Fenster Paul Harvey.
Grant’s past involvement with the chancellor’s daughter, Minna Fenster Rita Johnson, becomes a complication when Minna crashes his bachelor party and later nearly sabotages the engagement party. Katie hears about Minna’s visit and learns that Minna seems determined to undermine the couple, while Grant must keep things smooth with the chancellor.
With wedding plans underway, Katie’s sister, Aunt Jo Lillian Bronson, agrees to help but injures herself in a domestic accident, forcing the couple to bring the children along on their honeymoon. Abner, Charlie, and Zoe slip away at Porterville and end up hitching a ride with a traveling salesman, ultimately finding refuge with a kindly local farmer, Mr. Webb Irving Bacon, before the family is reunited and continues on to Junction City, then toward the Grand Canyon.
At the Grand Canyon, Minna and the chancellor are on vacation as well. Minna pushes Grant to reveal his sketches for a new building to her father, while Katie and the children enjoy a horseback excursion. Katie learns of the chancellor’s presence and returns to the lodge, where Minna invites her to dinner with Grant. While Katie is away, Minna slips in to see Grant, sparking a quarrel. Grant leaves in a taxi, and Minna watches with a knowing smile.
Back at the lodge, Jo organizes a welcome-home party for the couple, but Katie feels embarrassed returning to the gathering solo, with Minna and the chancellor nearby. The dynamic shifts when Grant and the children show up, and the couple, reassured by their reunion, spend their first night together, closing the trip with a renewed sense of partnership and a promise of married life ahead.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:28
Don't stop at just watching — explore Family Honeymoon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Family Honeymoon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Family Honeymoon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover movies like Family Honeymoon that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Family Honeymoon (1948) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Family Honeymoon (1948) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Family Honeymoon (1948) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Family Honeymoon – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Honeymoon Hotel (1964) Full Summary & Key Details
The Family Way (1966) Story Summary & Characters
Honeymoonish (2024) Full Movie Breakdown
The Honeymoon (2022) Full Movie Breakdown
Honeymoon Academy (1989) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Honeymoon Trips (1995) Film Overview & Timeline
Six Kids and the Honeymooners (1967) Story Summary & Characters
Honeymoon for Three (1941) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Honeymoon with Mom (2006) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007) Detailed Story Recap
Lost Honeymoon (1947) Full Movie Breakdown
Honeymoon with My Mother (2022) Story Summary & Characters
Family Happiness (1970) Full Summary & Key Details
A Jazzed Honeymoon (1919) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Second Honeymoon (2001) Full Movie Breakdown