Havana Widows

Havana Widows

Year: 1933

Runtime: 62 mins

Language: English

Director: Ray Enright

Comedy

they’ve got what it takes and it takes a lot! Two golddiggers go fishing for millionaires in Havana.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Havana Widows (1933)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Havana Widows (1933). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1933

The story unfolds in the early 1930s, a period of economic hardship and urban glamour. Depression-era constraints drive characters toward risky get-rich-quick schemes and extravagant disguises. The cross-Atlantic movement from New York to Havana highlights the era's appetite for escapism.

Location

New York City, Havana

Two distinct settings frame the comedy: the bustling New York City burlesque circuit and Havana's glittering, casino-filled nightlife. The NYC scenes focus on showgirls, backstage schemes, and the pressure to turn a quick profit. In Havana, opulent hotels, nightclubs, and a volatile mix of wealth and temptation become the backdrop for the cons.

🗽 New York City 🏝️ Havana

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:25

Main Characters – Havana Widows (1933)

Meet the key characters of Havana Widows (1933), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mae Knight (Joan Blondell)

A chorus line dancer from New York who is quick-witted and hungry for a fortune. She slides into schemes with Sadie, using charm and bravado to chase a bigger lifestyle. Her resilience keeps the con going, even as danger nears.

🎭 Dancer 💰 Ambitious

Sadie Appleby (Glenda Farrell)

Mae’s partner in crime, equally bold and impulsive. She improvises bold plots to escape the drabness of chorus life and secure wealth, driving the duo’s most audacious moves. Her boldness challenges Mae’s caution.

🎭 Dancer 💰 Ambitious

Herman Brody (Allen Jenkins)

A crafty, gambling-prone friend who schemes to get money through dubious means. His gullibility and habit of chasing luck fuel the escalation of the plot. He’s protective of his own skin, yet quick to talk his way into trouble.

💼 Gambler 🧠 Schemer

G.W. 'Butch' O'Neill (Ralph Ince)

The boss at the casino whose bad luck and control over the purse influence the financial dominoes. He represents the hard-edged world of risk that fuels the con. His interest lies in steadiness of profit rather than romance.

🎲 Boss 💰 Grasping

Deacon R. Jones (Guy Kibbee)

A wealthy horse breeder who becomes entangled in the women’s scheme. His public image as a respectable, scandal-averse man clashes with the bed-trap setup. His sense of honor and wealth strain under pressure.

💼 Wealth 🏇 Respectability

Mr. Duffy, the Lawyer (Frank McHugh)

The shrewd, unscrupulous attorney who counsels the women and orchestrates legal cover for their deception. His professional slyness helps pivot the plan around potential exposure. He’s pragmatic and opportunistic.

⚖️ Lawyer 💡 Schemer

Mr. Otis, Invincible Insurance (Hobart Cavanaugh)

An insurance salesman driven by a potential $5,000 bonus who unknowingly becomes part of the con. He’s pragmatic and pushy, embodying the era’s sales culture. His offers push the plot toward its risky payoff.

🧰 Insurance 💰 Opportunist

Bob Jones (Lyle Talbot)

Deacon Jones’s son—handsome but penniless—whose romance with Mae drives emotional stakes. He represents a possible stable future, yet his lack of wealth complicates the con’s payoff. He seeks a job in New York and a legitimate life.

💘 Romantic 🧭 Ambitious

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:25

Major Themes – Havana Widows (1933)

Explore the central themes of Havana Widows (1933), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🃏 Deception

Mae and Sadie masquerade as wealthy widows, weaving a web of lies to trap money and social standing. Forged checks, staged scandals, and blackmail propel the plot and test loyalties. The film uses deception to critique surface-level glamour versus real intentions.

🎲 Gambling

Gambling acts as the engine of the plot, driving decisions and risk-taking. Characters gamble with money, reputations, and futures, blurring the line between luck and schemes. The casino world in Havana mirrors the characters’ volatile fortunes.

💘 Romance & Ambition

Romance is tethered to ambition as Mae longs for financial security and Bob’s affection. Relationships become bargaining chips in the quest for status, revealing how desire can fuel shady plans. The film links personal affection with the drive for social ascent.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:25

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Unlock the Full Story of Havana Widows

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

Havana Widows Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Havana Widows, 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.

Havana Widows Summary

Havana Widows Timeline

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Havana Widows Timeline

More About Havana Widows

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