Play Girl

Play Girl

Year: 1941

Runtime: 77 mins

Language: English

Director: Frank Woodruff

MusicComedyRomance

When a gold digger starts to get a little old to ply her trade, she teaches a younger woman all her tricks.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Play Girl (1941)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Play Girl (1941). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

Set in the early 1930s, the film places its schemes in a period of urban affluence and economic pressure. Grace and Ellen maneuver through cosmopolitan social circles in Miami, Chicago, and New York as they chase wealthy patrons. The era's permissive social mores toward romance and money enable the protagonist's bold manipulations, while foreshadowing consequences.

Location

Miami, Chicago, New York

The story unfolds across three American cities. Miami serves as the sunlit gateway where Grace tries to chase wealth and escape dwindling funds, symbolizing escape and nightlife. The journey then moves to Chicago, a bustling commercial hub where social schemes unfold, and finally to New York City, a cultural capital where power and money shape relationships.

🏝️ Beach city 🏙️ Urban hotspot 🗽 Iconic metropolis

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:21

Main Characters – Play Girl (1941)

Meet the key characters of Play Girl (1941), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Grace Herbert (Kay Francis)

A calculating social climber who makes her living by seducing wealthy men and exploiting Ellen's naivety. She coaches Ellen on manipulating lovers for gifts and settlements, navigating rising tension when her protégé grows fond of a genuine romance with Tom. Her scheme is tested as circumstances force her to confront the consequences of deception.

💼 Manipulation 💃 Social climbing 💰 Wealth

Ellen Daley (Mildred Coles)

A young woman drawn into Grace's scheme, initially naive but increasingly conflicted as she falls for Tom. She wrestles with using deceit to secure a future while genuinely pursuing love, and she ultimately risks leaving the scheme behind to choose honesty.

💡 Naivety 💖 Romance 💰 Wealth

Tom Dice (James Ellison)

A cowboy whose charm wins Grace's attention and whose wealth and romance become central to the plot. He falls for Ellen, complicating Grace's manipulations, and ultimately aims to pursue a sincere relationship.

🤠 Cowboy 💖 Romance 💰 Wealth

Bill Vincent (Nigel Bruce)

A vain, wealthy man who becomes entangled in Ellen's web. He and Van Payson share the sense that they have been duped, which fuels the duo's confrontation with Grace.

💰 Wealth 🗝️ Power

Josie (Margaret Hamilton)

Grace's devoted maid who assists in the schemes and history of the con, serving as a confidant and ally in the manipulative plan.

🧹 Maid 🤝 Complicity

Mrs. Dice (Katharine Alexander)

Tom's mother, a family matriarch who knows about Grace's past and imposes a condition for blessing the marriage, highlighting the social scrutiny surrounding the couple.

👩‍👧‍👦 Motherly 💼 Family

Van Payson (G. P. Huntley)

An older, wealthy cattleman who appears as another target of Grace's scheme and who plays a role in the social circle that frames Ellen's choices.

💰 Wealth 🐮 Rancher

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:21

Major Themes – Play Girl (1941)

Explore the central themes of Play Girl (1941), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🃏 Deception

Grace trains Ellen to lure wealthy men for gifts and settlements, turning romance into a calculated business. The pair exploit appearances, social scenes, and promises to extract money, revealing how appearances mask true intentions. The plan evolves as Ellen's genuine feelings complicate the scam, leading to a clash between affection and profit.

💰 Wealth & Power

The plot pivots on how money buys access, status, and security, guiding every encounter from Miami to New York. Men’s interest in younger companionship is used as leverage to extract settlements and gifts. The film critiques a society where wealth defines value and relationships, while exposing the fragility of such power.

🎭 Female Agency

Grace embodies agency through manipulation, shaping Ellen's path and testing moral boundaries. Ellen's ascent from trainee to someone who can influence outcomes hints at empowerment, even as it comes from deceit. The story culminates in a choice between two paths—one guided by love and honesty, the other by calculated gain.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:21

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Unlock the Full Story of Play Girl

Don't stop at just watching — explore Play Girl 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 Play Girl is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Play Girl Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Play Girl, 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.

Play Girl Summary

Play Girl Timeline

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Play Girl Timeline

More About Play Girl

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