Now I’ll Tell

Now I’ll Tell

Year: 1934

Runtime: 82 mins

Language: English

Director: Edwin J. Burke

Drama

A candid confession unfolds as a woman narrates the rise of a modest gambler who, against all odds, claws his way to the top of the underworld. His ambition for wealth is matched only by his devotion to his wife, leaving him constantly torn between the allure of riches and the love he feels at home.

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Timeline & Setting – Now I’ll Tell (1934)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Now I’ll Tell (1934). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film's events unfold over several years, tracing a rise to power through gambles and schemes and then a long arc of consequence. It depicts a modern urban world where deals are sealed with risk, and personal loyalties are continually tested.

Location

New York City, Europe

The story unfolds primarily in New York City's casinos and nightlife, a hub for high-stakes risk and fast talk. It also spans Europe as characters travel and communicate across borders, underscoring the film's transatlantic stakes. The setting emphasizes a world where money, power, and deceit intersect in a ruthless urban landscape.

🗽 Urban hub 🎲 Gambling center 🌍 International travel

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:33

Main Characters – Now I’ll Tell (1934)

Meet the key characters of Now I’ll Tell (1934), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Murray Golden (Spencer Tracy)

An unscrupulous New York City gambler and casino operator whose motto, You’re only wrong when you fail, frames a life built on risk. He is charming and persuasive, yet relentlessly self-serving, willing to double-cross friends to win. His craving for wealth drags him deeper into crime and deceit, with devastating personal costs.

💰 Ambition 🎭 Manipulation 🌀 Recklessness

Virginia Golden (Helen Twelvetrees)

Murray's wife who demands he quit the illegal life after she extracts a promise of reform. She can be stern, protective, and resolute, using threats of leaving to steer him toward stability. Her loyalty is tested through jealousy and betrayal, and she ultimately chooses independence over a collapsing marriage.

💔 Loyalty 🗝️ Independence 🌪️ Resolve

Peggy Warren (Alice Faye)

Murray's mistress who becomes entangled in his dangerous gambling world. She navigates secrecy and manipulation, trying to hold onto affection while the plot's crimes threaten her safety. Her presence pressures the couple's marriage and accelerates the story's conflicts.

💖 Charm 🎭 Deception 🕰️ Consequences

Al Mossiter (Robert Gleckler)

Gangster and fixer who fixed the boxing match and later pursues his due after being double-crossed. He embodies the ruthless, calculating edge of the criminal underworld, willing to use violence to protect his interests. His actions catalyze the film's most perilous turn.

🔫 Crime 🧠 Cunning 💥 Brutality

Freddie Stanton (Hobart Cavanaugh)

Murray's friend and business associate who cycles through loyalty and opportunism as the plot thickens. He operates in the same circle of deals and danger, contributing to the moral ambiguity and shifting alliances. His presence helps drive the narrative toward its darker outcomes.

🤝 Friendship 💡 Opportunism 🎲 Gambling

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:33

Major Themes – Now I’ll Tell (1934)

Explore the central themes of Now I’ll Tell (1934), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed drives Murray Golden's decisions from the start, pushing him to fix fights, promise lavish rewards, and chase profits at any cost. His vow to quit after earning $500,000 proves hollow as ambition overpowers promises. The money becomes a measure of self-worth and control, not security. The film shows how wealth can corrupt trust, ruin friendships, and fuel dangerous schemes.

🕵️‍♂️ Crime

From the boxing fix to the attempted kidnapping, crime threads through the plot with escalating stakes. Mossiter's murder of the fighter underscores the brutal costs of manipulation. Murray's life-insurance gambit and the high-stakes poker debt create a tangled web of deceit and peril. The narrative builds toward a fatal clash where plans unravel and violence returns to its authors.

💔 Relationships

Marriage and loyalty are tested as Murray lies to Virginia about Peggy and her own loyalties. Virginia's decision to divorce marks the collapse of a personal bond built on a fragile foundation. Peggy's involvement and the betrayal reshape the dynamics between lovers, friends, and rivals. The final turn shows relationships as currency in a ruthless world.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:33

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Now I’ll Tell Summary

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Now I’ll Tell Summary

Now I’ll Tell Timeline

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Now I’ll Tell Timeline

More About Now I’ll Tell

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Now I’ll Tell (1934) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Now I’ll Tell (1934) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Now I’ll Tell (1934) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow