Kings Row

Kings Row

Year: 1942

Runtime: 127 mins

Language: English

Director: Sam Wood

RomanceDramaMysteryMoving relationship storiesEnduring stories of family and marital drama

The town they talk of in whispers. Five young adults in a small American town face the revelations of secrets that threaten to ruin their hopes and dreams.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Kings Row (1942)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Kings Row (1942). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1890s

The narrative unfolds in the 1890s, a period of growing professional ambitions and traditional social mores. Education and medicine are advancing, but personal lives remain governed by family honor and neighborly scrutiny. The setting of a small town and its era frames the characters’ choices and the consequences of secrecy.

Location

Kings Row

Kings Row is a close-knit, rural Midwestern town where everyone knows each other. The neighborhood is defined by its medical figures, quaint streets, and the shadow of serious secrets that hide behind upstairs windows and closed doors. The tight community backdrop amplifies the pressures of romance, ambition, and reputation that drive the story.

❄️ Small-town 🏥 Medical 🧠 Mental health 🕵️ Secrets

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:16

Main Characters – Kings Row (1942)

Meet the key characters of Kings Row (1942), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Parris Mitchell (Robert Cummings)

A polite, clever young student who develops a passion for psychiatry and dreams of studying in Vienna. He navigates a secret romance with Cassie while maintaining a strong loyalty to his friends, especially Drake and Randy. His arc centers on balancing scientific ambition with emotional honesty, culminating in a renewed sense of purpose after learning difficult truths.

💼 Intellectual 🧭 Ambitious ❤️ Romantic 🤝 Loyal

Cassandra Tower (Betty Field)

Daughter of the enigmatic Dr. Tower, Cassie is reserved and enigmatic, drawing both fascination and secrecy from those around her. Her relationship with Parris marks a rare tenderness in a town wary of her family. Her fate—driven by parental control—underscores the cost of hiding mental and emotional vulnerability.

💫 Reserved 🌫️ Mysterious 💔 Tragic 💡 Intellectual

Drake McHugh (Ronald Reagan)

Wealthy and energetic, Drake becomes a close friend of Parris, but his life is upended by illness and loss. His legs are amputated, leaving him embittered and bed-bound, yet still capable of warmth toward Randy and Parris. His arc focuses on resilience, the fragility of happiness, and the meaning of companionship.

🏥 Disability 🧭 Resilience 💔 Tragedy 🤝 Friendship

Randy Monaghan (Ann Sheridan)

A tomboy from a working-class background, Randy bridges the gaps between the town’s different families. She becomes Drake’s wife, offering steadfast support through his recovery and the couple’s shared struggles. Her courage highlights themes of loyalty and love beyond social boundaries.

🧒 Working-class 💪 Loyal ❤️ Romantic 🌟 Courage

Louise Gordon (Nancy Coleman)

Daughter of the town physician, Louise is torn between duty and affection. Her relationship with Drake creates tension with her father, who disapproves of the romance and later reveals the moral complexities behind Drake’s injury. Her perspective helps reveal the town’s hidden motives.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Doctor’s daughter 💔 Torn loyalties 🗨️ Secrets 🧭 Moral complexities

Dr. Alexander Tower (Claude Rains)

Cassie’s father, a respected physician whose actions reveal a willingness to manipulate outcomes to prevent perceived ruin. He poisons Cassie and then shoots himself, leaving Parris with a fortune that alters the town’s power dynamics. His legacy is one of control, fear, and tragic consequences.

🕵️‍♂️ Control 🧪 Medicine 🧯 Tragedy 🗝️ Legacy

Dr. Henry Gordon (Charles Coburn)

The town physician and Louise’s father, Dr. Gordon embodies conventional authority and protective suspicion. He disapproves of Cassie and plays a pivotal role in Drake’s forced injury, illustrating how fear and paternal pride can drive drastic action. His presence amplifies the town’s tensions.

👨‍⚕️ Authority 🧭 Tradition ⚖️ Control 💔 Family

Elise Sandor (Kaaren Verne)

Elise arrives during the later part of the story, moving into the childhood home and challenging Parris’s perspectives. She encourages him to treat Drake as a patient rather than a friend, guiding him toward truth and reconciliation. Her presence brings a hopeful counterweight to the tragedy.

🌸 New presence 🗣️ Voice of reason 💞 Romantic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:16

Major Themes – Kings Row (1942)

Explore the central themes of Kings Row (1942), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love and Duty

A romance between Parris and Cassie evolves under the weight of family expectations and social secrecy. Their bond offers hope and growth, yet is repeatedly tested by others’ demands and the fear of scandal. The story explores how love can both elevate and destabilize a life when the world around them imposes limits.

🧠 Mental Health and Secrecy

Cassie’s fragility and the town’s suspicions about her mother’s condition drive a culture of secrecy. Dr. Tower’s obsession with control shows how the fear of insanity can corrupt judgment and shape a family’s fate. The tale juxtaposes scientific curiosity with ethical questions about meddling in someone’s life.

💪 Resilience and Redemption

Drake’s disability and the emotional devastation he endures test the characters’ resolve. Parris’s medical ambitions and his decision to speak truthfully catalyze Drake’s renewed will to live. The ending emphasizes perseverance, healing, and the rebirth of purpose through genuine care.

🏷️ Class and Social Pressure

Kings Row’s social hierarchy shapes who is believed, who is trusted, and who is silenced. Randy’s background contrasts with Drake’s wealth and Cassandra’s ‘strange’ family, highlighting how reputation governs opportunity. The narrative shows how money, status, and prejudice influence the course of lives.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:16

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Kings Row Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Kings Row, 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.

Kings Row Summary

Kings Row Timeline

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Kings Row Timeline

More About Kings Row

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