Hail, Caesar! (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Eddie slaps Gloria DeLamour to protect her reputation after catching her in a compromising position with a photographer. By slapping her twice in front of witnesses, he creates a story that explains away the scandalous photos and allows him to help her assume a false identity for the press. This is part of his job as a fixer, to manage the public images of the studio's stars.

• gloria delamour
• eddie mannix
• photoshoot
• reputation
• fixer

During filming of "Hail, Caesar!," an extra working on the set maliciously spikes a goblet meant for Baird Whitlock. After Baird drinks the drugged beverage, he loses consciousness and is immediately kidnapped. The extra's sabotage allows the kidnappers to seize the star without resistance.

• baird whitlock
• kidnapping
• hail caesar
• drug
• extra

Baird Whitlock is kidnapped by a group of disgruntled communist writers who have been working in Hollywood. They lure him to a meeting under the pretense of discussing their grievances, then drug and abduct him. Their goal is to use the kidnapping to rally Baird to their communist cause and demand ransom money from the studio.

• baird whitlock
• communist writers
• kidnapping
• communism
• hollywood

The ransom demand of $100,000 comes from "The Future," the codename for the group of communist writers who kidnapped Baird Whitlock. They demand the money in exchange for returning the star to the studio. Eddie Mannix must raise the funds while keeping the kidnapping secret to protect the studio's reputation.

• ransom
• 100000
• the future
• communist writers
• baird whitlock

Eddie discovers that DeeAnna Moran, known for her wholesome public image, is pregnant from an affair with a director. To protect her reputation and the studio's image, Eddie decides to have the baby given up for adoption. He involves Joe Silverman as the adoptive father to create a believable cover story that maintains DeeAnna's squeaky-clean celebrity persona.

• deeanna moran
• pregnancy
• adoption
• eddie mannix
• joe silverman

Hobie Doyle follows Burt, another actor who is involved in the ransom scheme, and tracks him to the communist writers' hideout. There, Hobie discovers Baird Whitlock, who has been persuaded by the writers to join their cause. Hobie refuses to cooperate with them and manages to rescue Baird just as police close in on the writers' hideout.

• hobie doyle
• baird whitlock
• rescue
• communist writers
• burt

Eddie Mannix confesses frequently because he struggles with personal faults, including hiding his smoking habit from his wife. His job as a fixer constantly puts him in morally ambiguous situations, managing scandals, covering up affairs, and manipulating public images, which leads him to seek spiritual guidance regularly. The priest eventually tells him he isn't as bad as he thinks, reassuring Eddie about his role at Capitol Pictures.

• eddie mannix
• confession
• priest
• smoking
• catholic

Hobie Doyle is a talented Western star known for his stunts and authentic Southern charm, but he struggles to adapt to the refined British-style dialogue required by Broadway director Laurence Laurentz for the musical "Merrily We Dance." His heavy Southern accent makes it impossible for him to convincingly deliver lines like "Would that it were so simple," causing comedic frustration during rehearsals.

• hobie doyle
• laurence laurentz
• broadway
• dialect
• southern accent

The communist writers kidnap Baird Whitlock both to raise funds for their cause and to recruit the famous actor to their ideology. They see Hollywood as a tool for propaganda and want a celebrity like Baird to lend credibility to their movement. Their plan involves both securing ransom money and converting a Hollywood star to their political beliefs.

• communist writers
• ideology
• baird whitlock
• propaganda
• hollywood politics

The film ends with Eddie Mannix having a heartfelt reflection during confession, where the priest suggests he isn't so bad after all. This reassurance encourages Eddie to embrace his chaotic but vital role at Capitol Pictures and continue taking pride in his work as the studio's fixer. The various crises, the kidnapping, DeeAnna's pregnancy, and the media scrutiny, are all resolved or contained, allowing Eddie to continue his demanding career.

• eddie mannix
• ending
• confession
• capitol pictures
• resolution

Thora Thacker is a journalist who pursues Eddie Mannix while investigating Baird Whitlock's past. She represents the media's relentless scrutiny of Hollywood celebrities. Meanwhile, her sister Thessaly Thacker, a gossip columnist, also approaches Eddie for inside information, creating additional pressure for the fixer as he tries to manage both the kidnapping crisis and the media attention.

• thora thacker
• thessaly thacker
• journalist
• investigation
• gossip