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Ladies They Talk About (1933) movie poster

Timeline

Ladies They Talk About (1933) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1933 · 69 mins · English
Directed by
Howard Bretherton
Starring
Harold Huber, William Keighley, DeWitt Jennings, Barbara Stanwyck, Robert McWade, Etta Moten

She’s BRAZEN! A moll, imprisoned after participating in a bank robbery, helps with a breakout plot.

Crime Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Ladies They Talk About
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Ladies They Talk About (1933)

Where can you watch Ladies They Talk About? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on YouTube TV, Fawesome and Plex: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Ladies They Talk About Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Ladies They Talk About (1933) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Nan joins a robber gang and helps with the distraction during the bank heist

    Nan Taylor is part of a bank robbing gang and poses as a regular customer to distract the security guard while her accomplices steal the money. The plan relies on her staying calm and visible to draw attention away from the others. The heist proceeds, setting the stage for the consequences that follow.

    When
    During the robbery
    Where
    Bank

  2. Nan is arrested after the caper

    Nan's cover is blown by a policeman who had arrested her before. She is arrested again, ending the bank job. The arrest propels her into the criminal justice system.

    When
    Immediately after the robbery
    Where
    Police precinct

  3. Slade falls in love and helps win her release

    Reform-minded radio star David Slade falls in love with Nan and uses his influence to secure her release as a favor from District Attorney Simpson. Nan is granted release despite her criminal record. The gesture marks a turn from punishment toward potential rehabilitation.

    When
    After the arrest
    Where
    District Attorney Simpson's office

  4. Nan confesses; Simpson has her imprisoned

    Nan confesses that she is guilty, and Simpson has her imprisoned. The confession seals her punishment within the system. She is sent toward imprisonment as a consequence.

    When
    Shortly after confession
    Where
    San Quentin State Prison

  5. Nan arrives at San Quentin; meets fellow inmates

    At San Quentin State Prison, Nan meets Linda, Sister Susie, Aunt Maggie, and the matron Noonan. The new prison environment introduces social dynamics that influence her fate. Slade continues to send letters from outside, fueling the tension.

    When
    On arrival
    Where
    San Quentin State Prison

  6. Slade continues to send letters; Nan resists

    Slade continues to send Nan letters, expressing his affection, but she refuses his entreaties. The correspondence underscores a conflicted relationship and Nan's distance from outside help. The romantic tension persists behind prison walls.

    When
    During imprisonment
    Where
    San Quentin State Prison

  7. Sister Susie vies for Slade's attention

    Sister Susie develops a fancy for Slade and resents Nan for spurning him. The rivalries within the women's section complicate Nan's position in prison. The dynamic foreshadows how relationships will affect Nan's future.

    When
    During imprisonment
    Where
    San Quentin State Prison

  8. Lefty lays out an escape plan via the women's section

    Lefty visits Nan and explains an escape plan through the women's section, noting that Don is held in the men's section beyond the wall. He tasks Nan with mapping the women's area and copying the matron's key to facilitate a breakout. The plan increases danger and raises stakes for all involved.

    When
    During imprisonment
    Where
    San Quentin State Prison

  9. Don is shot attempting to break Nan out

    Don is shot dead as he reaches Nan's cell to rescue her. The failed escape ends with loss and reinforces the peril of plans hatched inside the prison. Nan remains imprisoned and the conditions darken her outlook.

    When
    During the escape attempt
    Where
    San Quentin State Prison

  10. Nan receives another year; loses visitors; vows revenge on Slade

    Nan is given another year in prison and is not allowed visitors. Her vow to seek revenge on Slade marks a shift from romantic entanglement to vindictive resolve. The period heightens the sense of entrapment and grievance.

    When
    After Don's death
    Where
    San Quentin State Prison

  11. Nan is released and attends Slade's revival meeting

    Upon release, Nan goes to a revival group meeting hosted by Slade. He greets her with warmth, and she is escorted to a back room where their interactions unfold. The meeting becomes the catalyst for their renewed, complicated relationship.

    When
    After release
    Where
    Revival group meeting venue

  12. Slade proclaims love; Nan challenges him

    In the back room, Slade proclaims his love for Nan. Nan scoffs and accuses him of turning in her bank robber accomplices. The confrontation deepens the rift between them even as their relationship persists.

    When
    During the meeting
    Where
    Back room of revival meeting

  13. Nan shoots Slade; they decide to marry

    Nan shoots at Slade and hits him in the arm, observed by Sister Susie through a keyhole. Slade denies that he has been shot. Despite the violence, Nan and Slade announce their intention to marry.

    When
    Following the shooting
    Where
    Back room

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 12:30

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Timeline questions answered

Ladies They Talk About Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Ladies They Talk About (1933): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Nan arrested after the bank robbery?

Nan's cover is blown when a policeman who had arrested her before recognizes her during the bank heist. She had been arrested previously, and the officer identifies her despite her attempt to pose as a regular customer distracting the security guard.

  • nan taylor arrest
  • bank robbery
  • policeman recognizes her
Q2

Why does David Slade help get Nan released from jail?

Reform-minded radio star David Slade falls in love with Nan after her arrest. He uses his influence to secure her release as a favor from District Attorney Simpson, believing he can help her reform and start a new life.

  • david slade
  • nan taylor
  • love
  • district attorney simpson
Q3

Why does Nan end up in San Quentin after being released?

After winning her freedom, Nan confesses to District Attorney Simpson that she is guilty of the bank robbery. Because she admits her crime, Simpson has no choice but to send her to San Quentin State Prison instead of letting her go.

  • nan taylor
  • confession
  • san quentin
  • prison
Q4

Why does Nan believe Slade betrayed her and her accomplices?

Nan believes Slade turned in her bank-robber accomplices to the authorities. This belief stems from her arrest and imprisonment despite his efforts to free her, leading her to conclude he was responsible for her gang being caught.

  • nan taylor
  • david slade
  • betrayal
  • accomplices
Q5

Why does Nan agree to help map the women's prison section for the escape?

Lefty, Susie's bank accomplice, visits Nan in prison and asks her to map the women's section and copy the matron's key. He explains that Don is imprisoned in the men's section on the other side of the wall, and they need access through the women's side to break him out.

  • escape plan
  • san quentin
  • lefty
  • don
  • women's section
Q6

Why is Don shot while trying to break Nan out of her cell?

Don is shot dead as he reaches Nan's cell to rescue her during the escape attempt. The plan goes wrong, resulting in Don's death and leaving Nan still imprisoned.

  • don
  • shot
  • escape attempt
  • nan cell
Q7

Why does Nan shoot David Slade at the revival meeting?

Nan attends Slade's revival meeting seeking revenge, believing he betrayed her accomplices to the police. When they are alone in a back room, she accuses him of turning in her bank-robber friends and shoots him in the arm.

  • nan shoots slade
  • revival meeting
  • revenge
Q8

Why do Nan and Slade decide to marry after she shoots him?

Despite shooting Slade in the arm, the two reconcile and decide to marry. The film leaves their relationship ambiguous, possibly due to Nan's realization that Slade may not have betrayed her, or perhaps the traumatic events force both to confront their genuine feelings for each other.

Foreshadowing: Sister Susie watches through the keyhole as Nan shoots Slade, suggesting the violence and revelation will have consequences.

  • nan
  • slade
  • marry
  • reconciliation
  • ending
Q9

Why does Sister Susie resent Nan despite being in prison together?

Sister Susie develops romantic feelings for Slade and becomes jealous when Nan spurns his letters and attention. Susie resents Nan for refusing Slade's affection, which creates tension between the two inmates.

  • sister susie
  • slade
  • jealousy
  • nan
Q10

Why is Nan cut off from visitors after Don's death?

Following Don's failed escape attempt and death, Nan receives an additional year in prison and is denied visitor privileges. This isolation hardens her resolve against Slade and contributes to her desire for revenge.

  • nan
  • visitors
  • additional year
  • punishment
Q11

Why does Lefty visit Nan in prison and propose the escape plan?

Lefty is the bank accomplice of Sister Susie, and he visits Nan at San Quentin to propose an escape route. Since Don is imprisoned in the men's section, they need Nan to map the women's section and copy the matron's key so the men can escape through the women's side of the prison.

  • lefty
  • escape plan
  • susie
  • don
  • san quentin

Movie threads

More Movies Like Ladies They Talk About, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Ladies They Talk About tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Defiant Women Behind Bars: Prison Dramas like Ladies They Talk About

Stories of fiery women navigating the harsh politics and power struggles of prison. If you enjoyed Ladies They Talk About, explore more movies like it featuring strong-willed female protagonists navigating the treacherous world of a women's prison. These stories share a tense, cynical tone and focus on revenge, survival, and morally ambiguous choices.

  • claustrophobic
  • defiant
  • tense
  • melodramatic
  • revenge-driven
  • prison life
  • Tone: tense, cynical, defiant
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives typically follow a woman incarcerated for a crime, often of passion or circumstance. The plot revolves around her adaptation to prison life, forming alliances, facing betrayals, and orchestrating a plan for revenge or escape, all while confronting her own moral ambiguity.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their specific, intense setting and the recurring archetype of the defiant female inmate. They share a claustrophobic mood, a focus on female-centric power dynamics, and a blend of crime drama with personal vengeance.

Ladies They Talk About movie poster

Ladies They Talk About

1933
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Prison Break

1938
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Girls in Prison

1956
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A Warden’s Ransom

2014
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Parole Girl

1933
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Woman in the Dark

1934
Rebellious Daughters movie poster

Rebellious Daughters

1938
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Girls on Probation

1938

Cynical Crime and Romantic Betrayal: Movies like Ladies They Talk About

Where love and crime fatally intertwine, leading to vengeance and moral ambiguity. Discover movies similar to Ladies They Talk About, where a romantic entanglement leads to crime, betrayal, and a morally complex path to vengeance. These films blend tense crime drama with personal relationships, resulting in mixed, ambiguous endings.

  • tense
  • cynical
  • revenge-driven
  • romantic betrayal
  • moral ambiguity
  • crime drama
  • Tone: tense, cynical, morally ambiguous
  • Pacing: steady, cause-and-effect
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist whose involvement with a lover leads them into criminal activity. This is followed by a betrayal, often resulting in the protagonist's imprisonment. The story then focuses on their quest for revenge, which is complicated by lingering romantic feelings, leading to a morally ambiguous resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped by their central theme of romance as a destructive force within a crime narrative. They share a specific emotional mix of tension, cynicism, and the complicated aftermath of betrayal, creating a distinct blend of genre elements.

Ladies They Talk About movie poster

Ladies They Talk About

1933
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Criminal

2004
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Detective Knight: Rogue

2022
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Gasoline Alley

2022
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The Scarlet Hour

1956
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City in Heat

2007
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To Steal from a Thief

2016
The Ringer movie poster

The Ringer

1952

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Every angle

Ladies They Talk About (1933) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Ladies They Talk About in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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