Now and Forever (1934) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is set in two major locations, Shanghai and Paris. The story opens in a glamorous Shanghai hotel, presenting a cosmopolitan world of luxury and deceit, then moves to Paris where a charity party and cunning schemes unfold. These settings emphasize a clash between escapist travel and the consequences of living by charm and guile.

• shanghai
• paris
• setting
• locations

Now and Forever is set in the early 1930s, during the interwar era. The period's mood blends glamour with risk, as international travel between Asia and Europe facilitates both opportunity and danger. The characters face immediate moral choices in a world that rewards wit and audacity.

• 1930s
• interwar
• era
• time period

The film explores three interconnected themes: honesty, family bonds, and redemption. The central tension lies between deceit and truth, Jerry's initial schemes collide with his daughter's unwavering belief in him, pushing him toward honesty. Pennie's presence anchors the story and pulls the adults toward responsibility, while crime and manipulation threaten to derail lives before a path to atonement emerges.

• honesty
• family
• redemption
• themes

Jerome 'Jerry' Day is a carefree, impulsive drifter who relies on charm and risky gambles to get by. Initially a con artist who schemes to pay hotel bills, his love for his daughter Pennie reveals a capacity for responsibility beyond his tricks. Over the course of the story, he shifts from deception to a commitment to honesty, motivated by family.

• jerry day
• protagonist
• con artist
• character

Penelope 'Pennie' Day is a five-year-old girl whose trust in her father motivates the central moral conflict. Living with her late mother's family, she becomes the catalyst for Jerry to abandon his swindling ways. Her faith in Jerry complicates the adults' decisions and serves as a force for positive change throughout the story.

• pennie
• penelope
• daughter
• child character

Toni Carstairs Day is Jerry's second wife, a practical and bold woman who accompanies him on their cosmopolitan journey. She assumes a maternal role for Pennie and confronts Jerry's schemes with resolve, pushing for stability and honesty within the family. Her choices help steer the family toward reconciliation.

• toni
• wife
• character
• family

The dual settings of Shanghai and Paris represent the film's thematic contrast between escapist travel and the consequences of living by charm and guile. Shanghai embodies a world of luxury and deceptive glamour, while Paris represents high society where schemes unfold. Together, they create a backdrop that reflects the characters' transient lifestyle and the moral stakes of their choices.

• shanghai
• paris
• setting
• symbolism
• world

The evolving dynamics among Jerry, Toni, and Pennie test loyalty, protection, and care beyond financial interest. Pennie's presence anchors the story and pulls the adults toward responsibility. The film treats family as the moral compass that guides difficult decisions, with Jerry's relationship with his daughter serving as the key to his redemption.

• family
• relationships
• dynamics
• jerry
• toni
• pennie

The film centers on the tension between deceit and truth, showing that owning up to one's mistakes can repair relationships and restore trust, even at personal cost. Jerry's initial schemes collide with Pennie's unwavering belief in him, pushing him toward honesty. The narrative demonstrates that genuine change requires confronting past deceptions.

• honesty
• truth
• deception
• moral compass

Redemption in the film comes through honesty, sacrifice, and repairing harm. Crime and manipulation threaten to derail lives, but the characters ultimately seek a path to atonement. The theft, gunplay, and eventual admissions culminate in a choice to return what was taken. Jerry's physical wound in the end symbolizes his psychological unburdening through honest action.

• redemption
• atonement
• change
• moral transformation

The film maintains a bittersweet tone, balancing the darkness of Jerry's criminal actions with the hopeful light of his love for his daughter and desire for redemption. The emotional weight derives from high-stakes personal dilemmas rather than graphic violence. This blend creates a story about crime and lies that is ultimately driven by a yearning for honesty and family stability.

• tone
• mood
• bittersweet
• emotional
• drama