I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now (1947) Plot Summary Explained

Joe accepts Lulu's invitation because she seduces him in her hotel suite after he confronts her about the theft. His anger is deflected by her charm, and he rationalizes that working as her piano player could help him advance his songwriting career. Lulu offers him a practical path into the entertainment industry, which he believes will ultimately benefit his ambitions.

• Joe Howard
• Lulu Madison
• song theft
• seduction
• career

Katie lies about her uncle John McCullem's death because she wants to stay close to Joe, whom she loves. She cannot bear to be separated from him after he leaves with Lulu. The lie is impulsive and desperate, showing her commitment to Joe despite the uncertain circumstances of his professional life on the road.

• Katie
• John McCullem
• lie
• tour
• love

When Lulu attempts to cancel Joe's performance to regain control, Katie retaliates by ruining Lulu's costume. This forces Lulu to retreat from the stage, leaving the opportunity open for Joe to perform his latest song. The audience responds with wild applause, marking Joe's breakthrough moment.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tension between Lulu and Katie on tour sets up this confrontational moment.

• Katie
• Lulu
• performance
• costume sabotage
• breakthrough

Joe is seduced by the glamorous performer Fritzi Barrington, who offers him a fresh start and new opportunities. Lenore Aubert's character brings excitement and vitality that contrasts with the complicated dynamics of his previous relationships. Joe chooses the allure of working with Fritzi over the familiar partnership with Katie.

• Joe Howard
• Fritzi Barrington
• seduction
• partnership

The financial backer is described as a flame from Fritzi's past, a previous romantic interest who becomes jealous of her professional partnership with Joe. He withdraws his financial support to protect his own interests and potentially to sabotage their success out of personal resentment.

• financial backer
• Fritzi
• jealousy
• support withdrawal

Joe blames Katie because she is Fritzi's understudy in the Broadway show, performing under the stage name Pat O'Dare. Joe believes Katie's presence as a rival unsettled Fritzi and contributed to her choice to leave. However, this blame appears misplaced, as Fritzi's departure is primarily driven by her desire to marry Martin Webb.

Foreshadowing: The earlier tensions between Katie and Lulu foreshadow Joe's pattern of blaming her for romantic rivalries.

• Joe
• Katie
• Fritzi
• Pat O'Dare
• understudy
• blame

Pat O'Dare is actually Katie, Joe's longtime guardian's niece who has been supporting his career throughout the story. She adopts the stage name to pursue her own performing career, likely to establish independence and avoid being directly associated with Joe given their complicated history. Joe discovers her true identity when she performs his unpublished song.

• Pat O'Dare
• Katie
• stage name
• identity reveal

The song is an unpublished composition by Joe that Katie performs under the stage name Pat O'Dare. Its title becomes poignant given her secret devotion to Joe throughout the years. When Joe discovers her singing his own song, it reveals that she has always remained connected to him emotionally, even while working independently. The song serves as a symbol of their unresolved feelings.

• I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
• song
• unpublished
• emotional reveal

The final kiss represents reconciliation after years of misunderstanding, hurt, and missed opportunities. Their relationship has been complicated by professional rivalries, jealousies, and Joe's repeated choices to pursue other women over Katie. The kiss hints at a possible fresh start, though it comes bittersweet, after much time has been lost and wounds have been carried.

• Joe
• Katie
• kiss
• reconciliation
• bittersweet ending

Lulu fires Joe because his success and growing fame threaten her control over him. Additionally, Katie's constant presence and support for Joe intensify Lulu's jealousy. The final breaking point occurs when Joe performs despite Lulu's attempt to cancel his slot, solidifying his independence from her influence.

• Lulu
• Joe
• firing
• jealousy
• control