Penthouse

Penthouse

Year: 1933

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: W.S. Van Dyke

MysteryCrime

High above the city, a tense romance unfolds in a luxurious penthouse. Gertie Waxted, once under the thumb of notorious racketeer Jim Crelliman, secretly aids lawyer Jackson Durant in a covert plan to frame the gangster for murder. As their dangerous liaison is uncovered, Gertie's life is placed in grave jeopardy with every passing moment.

Penthouse (1933) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Penthouse (1933) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

High above the city’s bustling streets, a sleek penthouse becomes a silent stage for intrigue and longing. The setting is one of polished marble, art‑deco lighting, and sweeping skyline views that frame a world of wealth, power, and hidden agendas. Within these lofty walls, the atmosphere hums with a blend of sophisticated glamour and an undercurrent of danger, hinting at secrets that could shatter the fragile veneer of prosperity.

Gertie Waxted arrives in this elevated sphere carrying the weight of a past she cannot easily escape. Once tethered to the grim reach of a notorious racketeer, she now moves with a quiet resolve, seeking redemption through daring choices. Across the polished hallway, Jackson Durant, an ambitious lawyer whose career has taken a risky turn, finds himself drawn into a partnership that blurs the lines between legal strategy and personal risk. Their connection crackles with the tension of a romance that must navigate both societal expectations and the shadow of the criminal world that looms nearby.

The film’s tone balances sleek, urbane style with a persistent sense of suspense. Conversations echo off polished surfaces, and every glance can carry a double meaning. The penthouse, a symbol of success, also serves as a pressure cooker where alliances are tested and loyalties are questioned. The city below flickers with its own rhythm, reminding characters that the glittering heights are never far from more tumultuous streets.

As Gertie and Jackson walk the thin line between love and peril, their alliance promises to upend the careful order of their lives. The story teases a dance of wit and will, where each move may either protect or expose them to forces that would rather keep the skyline unchanged.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:17

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with Dangerous Criminal Romances like Penthouse

High-stakes romances that bloom amidst crime, corruption, and shifting loyalties.If you liked the tense, high-stakes romance in Penthouse, explore other movies where love and crime collide. These films feature characters navigating passionate relationships amidst gangsters, corruption, and life-or-death stakes, creating a uniquely dangerous and thrilling vibe.

tensedangerous romancesuspensefulgrittyanxiouscynicalfast-pacedthrilling

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a protagonist entangled with someone from a dangerous world, where their romance is both a source of strength and a致命 weakness. The plot forces characters to choose between love and survival, often involving betrayals, covert plans, and dramatic confrontations.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their potent mix of genuine romantic tension and gritty crime thriller elements. They share a fast-paced, suspenseful tone where the central relationship is directly tied to the perilous plot, creating a consistently anxious and gripping experience.

Fast-Paced Framed Murder Mysteries like Penthouse

Rapid-fire crime stories where an innocent person is set up to take the fall.Fans of Penthouse will enjoy these similar gritty crime stories where a murder frame-up drives the plot. These movies share a fast pace, tense atmosphere, and a focus on legal manipulation, corrupt systems, and the desperate fight to clear a name.

suspensefulgrittytensefast-pacedcrime investigationlegal dramacorruptionanxious

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern begins with a murder that a key character is wrongfully implicated in. The story unfolds as a tense investigation or a covert counter-operation, involving legal drama, underworld figures, and witness manipulation, leading to a climactic resolution that often carries a cynical edge.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their core plot device of a murder frame-up, which creates immediate high stakes and drives a fast-paced, suspenseful narrative. They share a gritty tone, a focus on procedural elements and corruption, and a generally tense, anxious mood.

Unlock the Full Story of Penthouse

Don't stop at just watching — explore Penthouse in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Penthouse is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Penthouse Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Penthouse, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Penthouse Summary

Penthouse Timeline

Track the full timeline of Penthouse with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Penthouse Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Penthouse

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Penthouse. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Penthouse

More About Penthouse

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Penthouse: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Penthouse

Similar Movies to Penthouse

Discover movies like Penthouse that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.