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Now and Forever (1934) movie poster

Timeline

Now and Forever (1934) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1934 · 82 mins · English
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Directed by
Henry Hathaway
Starring
Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard, Shirley Temple, Rolfe Sedan, Akim Tamiroff, Guy Standing

Freewheeling drifter Jerry Day and his wife Toni clash over their lifestyle: Jerry shirks responsibility while Toni longs for a family and stability. When they reunite with Jerry’s daughter Pennie, living with his late wife's family, she becomes the catalyst for him to abandon his swindling ways. Yet a corrupt influence threatens his redemption.

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 Now and Forever
  6. 6 Every angle
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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Now and Forever Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Now and Forever (1934) 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. Shanghai hotel trouble and scheme

    Carefree and irresponsible Jerry Day and his second wife, Toni, run up a bill at a Shanghai hotel. With no means to pay, Jerry hatches a plan to swindle other guests to raise the money and continue their vacation. The scheme reveals their carefree attitude toward money and consequences.

    When
    Shanghai, hotel lobby
    Where
    Shanghai hotel

  2. Jerry contemplates selling Pennie's custody

    Desperation drives Jerry to consider selling the custody rights of his five-year-old daughter Pennie to his former brother-in-law. The idea shocks Toni and she cannot believe he would trade his child for cash. The plan marks a low point in their moral compass.

    When
    Shanghai
    Where
    Shanghai

  3. Toni heads to Paris

    Toni is shocked by Jerry's plan and travels alone to Paris. Her departure signals a turning point as she seeks distance from the immediate chaos. The move places them on divergent paths for a time.

    When
    Paris, en route
    Where
    Paris

  4. Jerry meets Pennie

    While Toni heads to Paris, Jerry meets his daughter Pennie for the first time and is instantly captivated by her. He feels a protective pull and decides to keep Pennie, choosing to assume responsibility for her. The moment marks a shift from abandonment to commitment.

    When
    En route to Paris
    Where
    On the way to Paris

  5. Reunion in Paris

    Pennie and Jerry arrive in Paris to be reunited with Toni, who will now pretend to be Pennie's mother. The fragile family trio tries to establish stability in a foreign city. Jerry begins to rethink his earlier reckless plans.

    When
    Paris
    Where
    Paris

  6. Non-existent gold mine sale

    Jerry pitches a non-existent gold mine to Felix Evans, a man who proves to be a seasoned con artist. Evans proves more cunning than Jerry anticipated, pulling him deeper into fraudulent schemes. Jerry's desperation pushes him toward increasingly risky bets.

    When
    Paris
    Where
    Paris

  7. Real estate work amid growing trouble

    Jerry tries to re-enter the workforce as a real estate salesman but is not very successful. His financial strain grows, and the lure of Evans's scams becomes harder to resist. The repeated failures heighten the tension in his relationship with Pennie.

    When
    Paris
    Where
    Paris

  8. The plan to steal the necklace

    Evans pays with a phony check and convinces Jerry to steal a valuable necklace from Mrs. Crane, a wealthy woman Pennie befriends. The plan represents a dangerous plunge back into criminal activity. Jerry's guilt about Pennie's faith in him begins to gnaw at his resolve.

    When
    Paris
    Where
    Mrs. Crane's house, Paris

  9. The party and the necklace theft

    During a party for Mrs. Crane, Jerry spots the necklace on her dresser and steals it, hiding it in Pennie's teddy bear. The guests are searched, but the necklace remains hidden. The atmosphere blends glamour with looming danger as the theft unfolds.

    When
    Party night
    Where
    Mrs. Crane's house

  10. Pennie discovers the necklace

    After Pennie is tucked into bed, she discovers the necklace hidden inside her teddy bear. She asks Jerry if he took it, and he denies. To ease her distress, Toni lies that she took the necklace, shielding Jerry's truth and testing Pennie's trust.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Pennie's bedroom

  11. Return and lie about the necklace

    Jerry returns the necklace to Mrs. Crane, who agrees to lie that it was not stolen but mislaid. Mrs. Crane then takes Pennie to boarding school, further separating the family. The deception tightens the web of secrets surrounding them.

    When
    After the party
    Where
    Mrs. Crane's home

  12. Injury and hospital arrival

    Jerry, suffering from an untreated gunshot wound, collapses as he tries to get back into the car after the confrontation. Toni takes him to a hospital, hoping to keep him safe from legal trouble. The injury catapults them into a new, somber reality.

    When
    Post-incident
    Where
    On the road to the hospital

  13. Contemplating truth in the hospital

    Lying in a hospital bed with a police officer nearby, Jerry contemplates that coming clean might not be so bad after all. He weighs the consequences of honesty for Pennie and himself. The moment hints at possible redemption or at least an acceptance of consequences.

    When
    Hospital
    Where
    Hospital room

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:31

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Timeline questions answered

Now and Forever Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Now and Forever (1934): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Jerry consider selling his daughter's custody?

Jerry considers selling Pennie's custody because he and Toni have run up an enormous hotel bill in Shanghai with no means to pay. Desperate to cover the debt and continue their carefree lifestyle, Jerry contemplates trading his five-year-old daughter to his former brother-in-law for money. The plan represents his lowest moral point, driven by financial recklessness and unwillingness to accept responsibility.

  • Jerry Day
  • Pennie
  • custody
  • Shanghai
  • money
  • desperation
Q2

What makes Jerry decide to keep Pennie instead of selling her?

Jerry's attitude shifts completely when he meets his daughter Pennie for the first time while traveling to Paris. The moment he sees his five-year-old child, he is struck by her bright, trusting nature and feels a powerful protective instinct. This emotional encounter transforms him from someone willing to sell his child to someone determined to keep custody and protect her from being used as a pawn in his schemes.

  • Jerry Day
  • Pennie
  • daughter
  • transformation
  • Paris
  • protection
Q3

Why does Jerry sell a fake gold mine to Felix Evans?

Jerry sells a non-existent gold mine to Felix Evans because he needs money after his real estate work fails to generate income. Despite his desire to change his ways and provide for his family, financial desperation draws him back into con artistry. Evans proves to be a more experienced swindler than Jerry anticipated, pulling him deeper into fraudulent schemes.

  • Jerry Day
  • Felix Evans
  • gold mine
  • scam
  • Paris
  • money
Q4

How does Jerry steal the necklace from Mrs. Crane?

Jerry steals the valuable necklace during a party at Mrs. Crane's house. After spotting the necklace on her dresser, he removes it and hides it inside Pennie's teddy bear while the child sleeps. When the guests are searched as part of a security check, the necklace remains undiscovered because it is concealed within the teddy bear that Pennie clutches close.

  • necklace
  • theft
  • Mrs. Crane
  • teddy bear
  • party
  • Paris
Q5

Why does Toni tell Pennie she took the necklace?

Toni lies to Pennie about taking the necklace to protect Jerry and preserve the child's trust in her father. When Pennie discovers the necklace in her teddy bear and asks Jerry if he took it, he denies it. Toni then steps in and claims she was the one who took it, hoping to prevent tears and protect Pennie's fragile faith in her father, even though the lie creates moral complications.

  • Toni
  • Pennie
  • necklace
  • lie
  • trust
  • protection
Q6

What happens when Jerry confronts Felix Evans?

Jerry brings the stolen necklace to Evans to sell, but Pennie's unwavering faith in him sparks a desire for honesty. During the confrontation, Evans shoots Jerry. Jerry fires back and kills Evans in self-defense. The violent encounter represents the climax of Jerry's criminal lifestyle and the moment he must face concrete consequences for his actions.

  • Jerry Day
  • Felix Evans
  • shooting
  • confrontation
  • self-defense
Q7

Why does Mrs. Crane agree to say the necklace was just misplaced?

Mrs. Crane agrees to lie and say the necklace was merely misplaced rather than stolen because Pennie has befriended her and she cares about the child. Additionally, Jerry returns the necklace to her before the confrontation with Evans. Her willingness to cover for the family helps maintain a fragile peace and protects Pennie from the full truth of the criminal events.

  • Mrs. Crane
  • necklace
  • lie
  • Pennie
  • forgiveness
Q8

Why does Mrs. Crane take Pennie to boarding school?

After the necklace incident, Mrs. Crane takes Pennie away to boarding school, effectively removing the child from the immediate drama surrounding Jerry's criminal activities. This decision protects Pennie from the dangerous consequences of Jerry's schemes and represents a painful separation for the family unit they had tried to establish in Paris.

  • Mrs. Crane
  • Pennie
  • boarding school
  • separation
  • protection
Q9

What leads Jerry to consider coming clean at the hospital?

Lying in a hospital bed with an untreated gunshot wound and a police officer nearby, Jerry contemplates that coming clean might not be as terrible as he feared. The combination of his injury, the reality of facing consequences, and his love for Pennie creates a moment of moral reckoning. He realizes that honesty might be preferable to living under the weight of his lies and criminal past.

Foreshadowing: Earlier moments when Pennie's trust in him made Jerry feel guilty foreshadow this decision to seek honesty.

  • Jerry
  • hospital
  • police
  • truth
  • confession
  • redemption

Movie threads

More Movies Like Now and Forever, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Now and Forever tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Fathers seeking redemption like in Now and Forever

Flawed fathers risk everything for a second chance with their children. Movies like Now and Forever, where flawed fathers are driven to change their ways for the sake of their children. This collection features similar stories of moral dilemmas, paternal love, and the bittersweet struggles of finding redemption through family bonds.

  • redemptive
  • morally conflicted
  • paternal
  • hopeful
  • somber
  • tender
  • Tone: bittersweet, morally conflicted
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a character, typically a father figure, whose life is defined by irresponsible or dishonest behavior. The arrival or reconnection with a child forces a confrontation with their own failings, sparking a journey to become a better person, often at great personal cost and against significant external threats.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by the central theme of a parent's love as a powerful redemptive force. They share a focus on moral conflict, the tension between a dark past and a hopeful future, and a bittersweet emotional tone that acknowledges the scars of change.

A Father’s Legacy movie poster

A Father’s Legacy

2020
Dada movie poster

Dada

2023
Fallen Angel movie poster

Fallen Angel

2003
Karumegangal Kalaiginrana movie poster

Karumegangal Kalaiginrana

2023
I Love You, Daddy movie poster

I Love You, Daddy

2017
Dad, I’m Sorry movie poster

Dad, I’m Sorry

2021
Goodrich movie poster

Goodrich

2024
A Simple Twist of Fate movie poster

A Simple Twist of Fate

1994

Bittersweet moral dilemma dramas like Now and Forever

Character-driven stories where difficult choices lead to a poignant, mixed conclusion. If you liked the moral conflicts and bittersweet resolution of Now and Forever, this thread gathers similar character-driven dramas. These films explore the weight of personal choices, the consequences of deception, and ultimately deliver a poignant, realistically mixed emotional conclusion.

  • morally conflicted
  • bittersweet
  • somber
  • hopeful
  • redemptive
  • anxious
  • Tone: bittersweet, somber, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories unfold around a central ethical conflict that tests the protagonist's character. The plot is driven by the cause-and-effect of their decisions, leading to a conclusion that reflects the complexity of real life—where redemption or a positive outcome is achieved, but often accompanied by sacrifice or lingering sadness.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies based on their shared focus on internal moral struggles, a steady narrative pace that allows for character depth, and a defining bittersweet emotional tone that resonates with the complexities of human choices and their aftermath.

Look Both Ways movie poster

Look Both Ways

2006
A Mongolian Tale movie poster

A Mongolian Tale

1995
The Narrows movie poster

The Narrows

2008
Let There Be Light movie poster

Let There Be Light

2017
Running Against the Wind movie poster

Running Against the Wind

2019
Like Dandelion Dust movie poster

Like Dandelion Dust

2009
Bubblegum movie poster

Bubblegum

2023
All That We Love movie poster

All That We Love

2025

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Every angle

Now and Forever (1934) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Now and Forever 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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