Hit the Deck (1955) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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1. 1

   Cake plan backfires and leads to Mud Pie transfer

   Two sailors hatch a plan to bake a birthday cake to impress the commander. They poke holes in a rival sailor's cake, fill the holes with rum, and disguise the dessert with candles and icing. The prank initially pleases the commander, but the cake bursts into flames when he blows out the candles, and the trio is sent to 'Operation Mud Pie' in a snake-infested swamp.

   When

   After the cake incident

   Where

   Arctic U.S. Navy reservation

2. 2

   Shore leave begins in San Francisco; Ginger ends the engagement

   During a two-day shore leave in San Francisco, Bill visits Ginger at the nightclub, and she reveals she has found someone else, breaking off the engagement. Rico visits his widowed mother, who is entertaining her florist boyfriend, Mr. Peroni, adding to the romantic tensions among the group. The men cope with mixed signals as the leave unfolds.

   When

   Two-day shore leave begins

   Where

   San Francisco

3. 3

   Peroni's jealousy and Mrs. Ferrari under his gaze

   Peroni, who had been led to believe Rico was nine years old, now looks at Mrs. Ferrari with new eyes, triggering a quarrel between them. The misunderstanding ignites a shifting dynamic among the couples on leave. Meanwhile new attractions begin to form as the men observe the women’s lives in San Francisco.

   When

   During shore leave

   Where

   Mrs. Ferrari's apartment

4. 4

   Danny reconnects with his father and learns of Susan’s dating Wendell

   Danny returns to his home and reunites with his Rear Admiral father, Daniel Xavier Smith. His sister Susan reveals she is dating actor Wendell Craig, hinting at a potential jiggle of public attention and danger around her budding romance. The family dynamics set the stage for further complications.

   When

   Shore leave day

   Where

   Admiral Smith's residence

5. 5

   Danny discovers Carol Pace at Hit the Deck rehearsal

   Danny goes to the theater where Wendell's show Hit the Deck is rehearsing and is immediately attracted to dancer Carol Pace. Carol warns him about Wendell’s reputation as a womanizer, raising concerns for Susan’s safety. Danny's interest in Carol deepens the personal stakes for the upcoming performances.

   When

   Same day

   Where

   Theater rehearsal hall

6. 6

   Hotel suite confrontation and Susan’s escort home

   Bill returns to the nightclub and questions Ginger with jealousy about her new boyfriend, while the tension between the sailors and Wendell escalates. At Wendell's hotel suite, Susan sings for him, and he begins to make a move. Danny and his friends intervene, and Rico escorts Susan home, during which Rico begins to fall for her.

   When

   Evening before the opening

   Where

   Wendell's hotel suite

7. 7

   Shore patrol closes in as the group hides

   Shore patrol questions Ginger at the nightclub, but she withholds information about the sailors' whereabouts. The sailors and their friends retreat to Mrs. Ferrari's apartment and then hide in Peroni's flower shop to avoid detection. The tension intensifies as the net tightens around them.

   When

   Later that night

   Where

   Nightclub, Mrs. Ferrari's apartment, Peroni's flower shop

8. 8

   Peroni jealousy plan succeeds; roses and a proposal

   To provoke jealousy, Rico has Bill pretend to be Mrs. Ferrari's new suitor and send her roses. Peroni personally delivers the flowers and, in a twist of romance, asks Mrs. Ferrari to marry him, which she happily accepts. The plan shifts relationships in unexpected ways.

   When

   Next day

   Where

   Peroni's flower shop

9. 9

   Bill proposes to Ginger

   Bill calls on Ginger and finally proposes, sealing their rekindled relationship. The engagement adds another layer of complication to the intertwined romantic entanglements. The couples brace for the upcoming premiere of Hit the Deck.

   When

   Afternoon before performance

   Where

   Ginger's nightclub

10. 10

    Wendell’s bruises and charges resolved

    That evening, Wendell tries to cover his bruises with makeup as Susan arrives to intervene. He agrees to withdraw the charges if the sailors apologize in person, offering a path toward reconciliation. The threat of legal consequences begins to recede as negotiations take shape.

    When

    Just before the curtain

    Where

    Wendell's dressing room

11. 11

    Sailors slip backstage and blend with the chorus

    Susan brings the sailors to Wendell's dressing room, but the shore patrol is waiting on the other side of the curtain. The sailors flee by blending in with the chorus members as they move toward the stage. The audience, including the admiral, watches the tension unfold with growing bewilderment.

    When

    Just before curtain

    Where

    Wendell's dressing room to the stage

12. 12

    Melee erupts; revelation of Susan’s involvement

    A melee erupts as the sailors are confronted by the authorities. The admiral and his aide Lt. Jackson watch from the audience in astonishment. When the dust settles, the admiral learns that the woman at the center of the trouble is Susan, clarifying the miscommunications.

    When

    Opening number

    Where

    Theater auditorium

13. 13

    The women tell the full story; charges withdrawn

    Mrs. Ferrari, Carol, and Ginger barge in to tell Jackson the entire sequence of events. The admiral returns home and confronts Susan, who explains her side and the family’s concerns about Rico. Jackson discreetly reveals that Wendell withdrew the charges to protect his wife’s reputation, clearing the air for everyone involved.

    When

    After the melee

    Where

    Admiral's home and backstage area

14. 14

    Happy endings as the couples pledge their futures

    With misunderstandings resolved, the three sailors are happily united with their respective loves. The group celebrates the reconciliation and looks forward to their futures together. The story closes on a note of romance and camaraderie among the crew.

    When

    End

    Where

    Various including theater and homes