Girl Trouble

Girl Trouble

Year: 1942

Runtime: 81 mins

Language: English

Director: Harold D. Schuster

Comedy

She burns his toast…presses his hat…kicks out his girl friends! A South American in New York rents the apartment of a socialite who pretends to be his maid.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Girl Trouble 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!

Timeline & Setting – Girl Trouble (1942)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Girl Trouble (1942). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

late 1930s to early 1940s

Set in the pre-war era just before and during the early stages of World War II, the film places its characters in a climate where fortunes and loyalties are tested. Global tension and shifting finances frame the characters' decisions, especially around cross-border investments and capital control. The period mood underlines how wealth, status, and opportunity intersect in high-society economics.

Location

New York City, June's upscale apartment, exclusive clubs

The story unfolds within New York City's elite social milieu, centered on an opulent apartment and the city's exclusive clubs. The apartment and its surroundings symbolize luxury as a backdrop for flirtation, scheming, and social maneuvering. Scenery shifts between glamorous parties and business negotiations, highlighting the contrast between wealth and ambition.

💎 Wealth 🎭 High society 🏙️ Urban life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:39

Main Characters – Girl Trouble (1942)

Meet the key characters of Girl Trouble (1942), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

June Delaney (Joan Bennett)

A member of New York City's upper circles who rents out her upscale apartment and uses charm to maintain appearances. She pretends to be away when Pedro first arrives, and her attraction to him grows as they navigate social games and business negotiations.

💎 Wealth 🎭 Socialite ❤️ Love interest

Pedro Sullivan (Don Ameche)

A Venezuelan playboy and heir to a rubber industry who travels to the United States to secure a bank loan. He is driven, hopeful, and pragmatic, and he falls for June while trying to broker a deal that will save his father's business.

💎 Wealth 🌎 International 🤝 Negotiator

Ambrose Murdock Flint (Frank Craven)

A powerful tires magnate who controls the financing and resists Pedro's offer, insisting on investing in a rubber substitute. He serves as the main obstacle in the loan negotiation and becomes a focal point for the clash between money and influence.

💼 Corporate 🏭 Industry 💰 Power

Simon Cordoba (Fortunio Bonanova)

The New York representative who initially misinterprets Pedro's loan and later chastises him for the failed deal, setting up the tension that propels the plot toward a final agreement.

💼 Corporate 🗽 NYC 🔍 Skeptic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:39

Major Themes – Girl Trouble (1942)

Explore the central themes of Girl Trouble (1942), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💎 Wealth

Money drives the plot and defines power in social circles. The loan negotiations, the value of June's apartment, and Flint's control of capital reveal how wealth determines access and influence. The romance and strategy hinge on who can offer resources and favorable terms. Wealth is both enabler and constraint for the characters.

🎭 Deception

Deception threads through the relationship from the start, with June posing as a servant and Pedro using misdirection in negotiations. The misunderstandings threaten the loan and trust, fueling conflict and comic tension. As the couple grows closer, the masks gradually come off and honesty prevails.

⚖️ Class

Class structures the interactions, with June's high-society lifestyle colliding with Pedro's outsider status. The luxury setting, social clubs, and business deals all measure worth and opportunity through social rank. The story shows efforts to bridge divides in order to secure the loan and build a partnership.

❤️ Romance

Romance develops amid scheming and negotiations, as June and Pedro move from attraction to a collaborative partnership. Their relationship grows as they work together to secure the loan, testing trust against ambition. The union ultimately combines affection with shared goals, culminating in a romantic alliance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:39

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Charming Deception Comedies like Girl Trouble

Mistaken identities and witty banter pave the way for love in high society.If you enjoyed the playful lies and romantic chaos of Girl Trouble, you'll love these movies. This section features witty screwball comedies and romantic farces where characters use deception to navigate social class or business, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and a happy romantic resolution.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically revolves around a central deception—such as an impostor or a hidden identity—that creates a web of comedic misunderstandings. The plot is driven by witty dialogue, chance encounters, and a series of escalating complications, all while a genuine romance blossoms beneath the facade, culminating in a happy resolution where the truth is revealed and forgiven.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core premise of charming deception used for romantic or social ends. They consistently deliver a light, fast-paced, and whimsical tone, blending romantic tension with comedic situations, ensuring a feel-good experience with minimal emotional weight.

Playful Class Clash Comedies similar to Girl Trouble

Humorous explorations of wealth, status, and the chaos that ensues when worlds collide.Fans of Girl Trouble will appreciate these films that humorously tackle themes of social class. Discover similar movies where business deals and romantic pursuits cross class lines, creating a playful and fast-paced comedy of manners with a lighthearted tone and a satisfying, happy conclusion.

playfulwhimsicalsatiricallightheartedcharmingsocial commentarymannersforgiveness

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern centers on a conflict or negotiation between characters from different economic or social backgrounds. This clash drives the comedy, creating situations where etiquette, values, and expectations humorously collide. The resolution often involves a softening of rigid class boundaries, forgiveness, and a newfound understanding or partnership.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their focus on social class as a primary source of comedy and conflict. They share a light tone and fast pacing, using the interaction between different worlds to generate playful, rather than cynical, social commentary and romantic friction.

Unlock the Full Story of Girl Trouble

Don't stop at just watching — explore Girl Trouble 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 Girl Trouble is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Girl Trouble Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Girl Trouble, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Girl Trouble Summary

Girl Trouble Timeline

Track the full timeline of Girl Trouble with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Girl Trouble Timeline

Girl Trouble Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Girl Trouble that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Girl Trouble Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Girl Trouble

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

More About Girl Trouble

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Discover movies like Girl Trouble 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.