I Stole a Million

I Stole a Million

Year: 1939

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: English

Director: Frank Tuttle

DramaCrime

The Story Of A Man Who REALLY Stole A Million! A cabbie and petty thief dreams of the big heist that will end his thieving ways.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen I Stole a Million 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 – I Stole a Million (1939)

Trace every key event in I Stole a Million (1939) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Arrest after debt dispute

Joe argues with a finance company over payments on his new cab, convinced he has been cheated. He reclaims the payments but is arrested for robbery. He escapes custody with the handcuffs still on and hops onto a passing freight train, where a tramp points him toward Patian, a thief in San Diego who can remove the cuffs.

2

Meets Patian in San Diego and makes a deal

On arrival in San Diego, Joe meets Patian, a thief and fence. Patian agrees to remove the handcuffs only if Joe agrees to drive the getaway car in a bank robbery.

San Diego
3

Bank robbery; sent to Sacramento boarding house

Patian arranges a bank robbery and Joe drives the getaway car. After the heist, Patian sends Joe north to a boarding house in Sacramento to wait for his share of the loot.

Sacramento
4

Boarding house warns Patian isn’t reliable; money plans

At the Sacramento boarding house, the owner informs Joe that Patian isn't reliable with the money. Desperate for cash, Joe tries to figure out how to get bus fare to return to San Diego and collect what he's owed.

Sacramento
5

Meet Laura Benson; decides to reform

Joe contemplates robbing the cash register of the empty storefront of a downtown Sacramento flower shop. Laura Benson, the clerk, emerges from the backroom, and Joe is struck by love at first sight. He decides to go straight instead of turning to crime.

Sacramento
6

Amesville life; police on the trail

With winnings from a crap game, Joe buys a garage in Amesville and settles into a quiet life. However, within a year the police are on his trail, implying that his past is catching up with him.

Amesville
7

Return to San Diego; forced post office robbery

Desperate for money, Joe travels back to San Diego to demand Patian's payment. Patian's thugs force him to rob a post office, pulling him back into crime.

San Diego
8

Desperate and on the run

Desperate and afraid of being caught if he returns home, Joe disappears. He vanishes into the shadows, running from the law and trying to stay one step ahead of Patian's gang.

9

Baby news; Laura pleads surrender

Months later, Joe sees a photo of his newborn baby in the newspaper and confronts Laura. Laura pleads with him to surrender and serve his time so he can preserve a future with his daughter.

10

Pursuit closes in; Laura arrested

Footsteps are heard as pursuit closes in on Laura; Joe flees. Laura is arrested and jailed as an accomplice.

11

Million Dollar Bandit

While Laura is in jail, Joe devises a plan to steal enough money to secure Laura and his daughter financially, embarking on a robbing spree that earns him the moniker \"the Million Dollar Bandit\".

12

Final surrender

After Laura serves her sentence, she meets Joe and again pleads for him to surrender. As police surround them, Joe has no choice but to turn himself in.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:05

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I Stole a Million Summary

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I Stole a Million Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in I Stole a Million

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