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Maisie Goes to Reno (1944) movie poster

Timeline

Maisie Goes to Reno (1944) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1944 · 90 mins · English
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Directed by
Harry Beaumont
Starring
Billy Bletcher, Donald Meek, Ava Gardner, William Bailey, Larry J. Blake, Wally Cassell

YOU’LL BE CRAZY ABOUT MAISIE! A Brooklyn showgirl gets mixed up in a divorce between a soldier and his wife.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Maisie Goes to Reno
  6. 6 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Maisie Goes to Reno Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Maisie Goes to Reno (1944) 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. Maisie gets a two-week paid vacation

    Maisie Ravier, a worn-out WWII riveter, becomes irritable and starts winking involuntarily at people. The factory doctor prescribes a two-week paid vacation to recover from the stress. She heads off, hoping the break will bring some relief and perhaps a bit of adventure.

    When
    start of vacation
    Where
    World War II factory
  2. Reno opportunity: Tommy Cutter invites her to sing

    On the road toward Reno, Maisie runs into her friend and bandleader Tommy Cutter, who wants her to sing for two weeks in Reno. He pitches it as a fresh start that could lift her spirits. She weighs the plan as a welcome escape from factory life.

    When
    en route to Reno
    Where
    On the road to Reno
  3. Meeting Bill Fullerton at the bus station

    At the bus station bound for Reno, Maisie meets Sergeant Bill Fullerton, who is also headed to Reno. He hopes to stop his wealthy wife Gloria from divorcing him. He asks Maisie to deliver a letter to Gloria in person.

    When
    En route to Reno
    Where
    Bus station
  4. Bill's leave canceled; deliver the letter anyway

    Bill's leave is canceled due to his unit's relocation, but he still asks Maisie to personally deliver the letter to Gloria. He fears the divorce's consequences and sees Maisie as a messenger who could influence Gloria. Maisie agrees, unaware of the underlying manipulation.

    When
    Before reaching Reno
    Where
    Between Army base and Reno
  5. In Reno: Flip Hennahan drives her to the resort

    In Reno, blackjack dealer Flip Hennahan offers to drive Maisie to the isolated resort where Gloria is staying. He knows the lay of the land and seems eager to help. The journey sparks a budding romance that complicates the mission.

    When
    Upon arrival in Reno
    Where
    Reno
  6. Maisie is duped into thinking Wini is Gloria

    Maisie is convinced that Gloria herself is Gloria's secretary, Wini Ashbourne. Wini and Gloria's business manager Roger Pelham manipulate Maisie's impressions to pressure Gloria toward acceptance of the divorce. The deception sets the stage for a tangled web of manipulation.

    When
    early Reno stay
    Where
    Reno resort
  7. Conspiracy to forge a letter

    Wini and Pelham decide to push the divorce by forging a second letter claiming Bill married Gloria for her money. They hire J. E. Clave to craft the forgery, hoping to convince Gloria of Bill's supposed motives. The plan intensifies the plot as Maisie gets closer to the truth.

    When
    during planning
    Where
    Reno
  8. Maisie grows suspicious; searches for evidence

    As her romance with Flip deepens, Maisie realizes she's been duped. She resolves to uncover evidence that Gloria is being manipulated and not the true architect of her fate. The stake rises as she gathers clues.

    When
    mid-stay
    Where
    Reno resort
  9. Forgery blotter obtained; Clave notices and the evidence is burned

    Maisie obtains a blotter that Clave used to practice forgery. Clave detects the loss and warns the others, who quickly retrieve and burn the blotter to destroy evidence. The attempt to confirm Gloria's innocence becomes a dangerous secret.

    When
    after discovery
    Where
    Reno resort/Clave's office
  10. Flip suspects Maisie is having a nervous breakdown

    Flip grows convinced that Maisie is losing her grip on reality. His worry complicates her efforts to expose the plot and adds tension to their relationship. Maisie must navigate mistrust and manipulation on top of the scheme.

    When
    after blotter incident
    Where
    Hotel in Reno
  11. Maisie phones Bill; urges him to Reno

    Bill receives a late-night call from Maisie begging him to come to Reno before it's too late. The plea underscores the urgency of resolving the marriage and the impending confrontation with Gloria. The moment accelerates the plan toward the courthouse showdown.

    When
    late night
    Where
    Reno
  12. Jerry the bellboy joins the kidnapping plan

    In a desperate move, Maisie enlists a lovesick hotel bellboy named Jerry to help kidnap Gloria. The plan demonstrates her willingness to bend the law to protect Gloria and repair the situation. The scheme draws law enforcement closer and raises the stakes.

    When
    mid-stay
    Where
    Reno hotel
  13. Maisie is caught; Flip helps get her released

    Maisie is caught during the attempted kidnapping, but Flip convinces the police that she is not in her right mind. He takes custody of her to avoid a harsher outcome. The plan unravels in the glare of public scrutiny.

    When
    following the arrest
    Where
    Police station / hotel
  14. Final courthouse reunion

    Bill arrives in Reno, and Maisie hurries to the courthouse with him. The husband and wife are reunited, and the divorce mess is resolved, bringing a tidy ending to her misadventure. The deception is exposed and Maisie secures Gloria's and Bill's reconciliation.

    When
    Ending
    Where
    Courthouse

Last updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:55

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Timeline questions answered

Maisie Goes to Reno Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Maisie Goes to Reno (1944): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Maisie agree to deliver Bill's letter to Gloria?

Maisie agrees because Bill is desperate to stop his wife from divorcing him. When his military leave gets canceled due to his unit relocating, he asks Maisie to personally deliver the letter hoping she can influence Gloria before it's too late. Maisie agrees partly out of sympathy and partly because she's heading to Reno anyway for a singing engagement.

  • bill fullerton
  • gloria fullerton
  • letter delivery
  • divorce
Q2

Why does Maisie think Wini is Gloria?

When Maisie arrives at the Reno resort, Flip Hennahan drives her there but deliberately introduces her to Gloria's secretary Winifred Ashbourne as if she were Gloria. Wini and Gloria's business manager Roger Pelham are orchestrating the divorce, so they allow Maisie to believe the secretary is the wife, keeping the real Gloria hidden while they manipulate the situation.

  • wini ashbourne
  • mistaken identity
  • reno resort
  • gloria
Q3

Why do Wini and Roger want Gloria to divorce Bill?

The film never fully explains Wini and Roger's specific motives, but they're clearly benefiting financially from the divorce proceeding. They hire the unscrupulous J.E. Clave to forge a letter suggesting Bill married Gloria for money, which would undermine her emotional attachment and make her more willing to finalize the split. Their goal appears to be controlling or extracting wealth from Gloria's situation.

  • wini ashbourne
  • roger pelham
  • divorce scheme
  • money
Q4

What was the forged letter supposed to accomplish?

Wini and Roger hire J.E. Clave to forge a letter that would convince Gloria Bill never truly loved her and only married her for her money. The forged letter was meant to emotionally manipulate Gloria into accepting the divorce by destroying her belief in Bill's sincerity, making her more willing to sever the marriage quickly.

  • j.e. clave
  • forged letter
  • divorce manipulation
  • bill motive
Q5

Which side is Flip Hennahan really on?

Flip initially appears to be working with Wini and Roger since he delivers Maisie to the wrong person and knows about the scheme. However, he develops genuine feelings for Maisie and gradually shifts to helping her. When she's caught kidnapping Gloria, Flip convinces police she's having a nervous breakdown, getting her released into his custody so he can protect her.

  • flip hennahan
  • romance
  • double agent
  • protection
Q6

Why does Maisie resort to kidnapping Gloria?

After learning Gloria is being manipulated but unable to prove it (the forgery blotter evidence was burned), Maisie decides drastic action is needed. She enlists bellboy Jerry to kidnap Gloria, believing that forcing the couple together physically will force them to confront their feelings and stop the divorce. It's an extreme measure born from frustration with the deception and her failure to expose the truth through normal means.

  • kidnapping scheme
  • jerry bellboy
  • gloria rescue
Q7

What happens to the blotter that could prove the forgery?

Maisie manages to obtain the blotter where Clave practiced his forgery, which contains physical evidence of the fraudulent letter. However, Clave notices it's missing and alerts the others. Wini, Roger, and Clave quickly retrieve the blotter from Maisie and burn it, destroying the only concrete proof that Gloria was being manipulated and leaving her with no evidence to present.

  • forgery evidence
  • blotter
  • clue destruction
  • expose plot
Q8

How does Maisie get released after being caught?

When Maisie is caught during the kidnapping attempt, Flip intervenes at the police station. He convinces the authorities that Maisie is not in her right mind and suffering from emotional distress. This argument persuades police to release her into Flip's custody rather than pursuing serious charges, allowing her to continue helping Bill reach the courthouse in time.

  • police release
  • flip custody
  • nervous breakdown claim

Movie threads

More Movies Like Maisie Goes to Reno, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Maisie Goes to Reno tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Fast-Paced Screwball Romances like Maisie Goes to Reno

Whirlwind comedies of mistaken identities and chaotic romantic entanglements. If you enjoyed the zany energy and romantic mix-ups of Maisie Goes to Reno, you'll love these movies. This collection features classic and modern screwball comedies filled with witty banter, frantic chases, and couples who find love through a whirlwind of comedic chaos and mistaken identities.

  • screwball
  • witty
  • frantic
  • romantic
  • upbeat
  • mischievous
  • Tone: light, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a charismatic, often slightly chaotic protagonist who gets entangled in a web of deception or mistaken identity, leading to a series of rapidly escalating comedic events. The central conflict is usually a romantic misunderstanding that must be untangled, resulting in a happy resolution where the right couples end up together.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared commitment to a fast, farcical pace, a light and playful tone, and a narrative structure built around romantic complications and clever deceptions. They provide a similar viewing experience of high-energy comedy with a warm, romantic heart.

Meddlers with Hearts of Gold like Maisie Goes to Reno

Stories about charismatic busybodies who chaos into fixing other people's lives. Fans of Maisie's charmingly intrusive efforts to save a marriage will enjoy these similar stories. Discover films featuring lovable, energetic characters who stir up trouble with their meddling but ultimately use their cleverness and big hearts to help others find love and happiness.

  • mischievous
  • charismatic
  • upbeat
  • heartwarming
  • clever
  • optimistic
  • Tone: light, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a protagonist who, driven by good intentions, inserts themselves into a complex personal situation like a relationship in crisis. Their actions initially cause more confusion and comedic problems, but through their unique perspective and relentless optimism, they help the central characters see the truth and reconcile, often finding their own happiness along the way.

Why they belong together: These films are united by a specific character archetype: the lovable meddler. They share a tone that is mischievous yet ultimately warm, a moderate level of complexity from the tangled plots they create, and a theme of connection and saving relationships through unconventional means.

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Every angle

Maisie Goes to Reno (1944) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Maisie Goes to Reno 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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