Pot o’ Gold

Pot o’ Gold

Year: 1941

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: George Marshall

RomanceMusicComedySong and danceDazzling vocal performances and musicals

A light‑hearted romantic comedy about Jimmy, who runs a failing music shop and ends up working for his uncle’s food‑processing plant. He befriends an Irish family with a noisy house band that his uncle despises. Jimmy tries to book gigs for the group and mend the feud between the family and his uncle, leading to plenty of laughs and musical mishaps.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Pot o’ Gold (1941)

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

Time period

1940s

The film unfolds in the early 1940s, a period when radio programs and live bands dominated American entertainment. Sponsors and regulatory oversight shape on-air antics and promotions. The era's glitz contrasts with everyday town life, driving the plot's musical and romantic stakes.

Location

Point Jervis, New York, Radio studio

Point Jervis is a small-town setting in upstate New York where Jimmy runs a local music store and Molly's mother's boardinghouse serves as a social hub for visiting musicians. The story expands to the Haskell factory and a nearby radio studio where Horace Heidt's band practices and performs. The blend of working-class life and showbiz energy gives the backdrop for romance, ambition, and schemes.

🎶 Music 🏙️ City Life 🎭 Entertainment

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:54

Main Characters – Pot o’ Gold (1941)

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

James Hamilton 'Jimmy' Haskell (James Stewart)

Jimmy is the ambitious owner of a music store who ends up impersonating C.J. Haskell to take over the family business and gain the people around him. He is resourceful and quick-witted, using charm and humor to navigate show business. His deception creates both opportunity and risk, driving the story toward romance and consequence.

🎭 Charismatic 💼 Ambitious

Molly McCorkle (Paulette Goddard)

Molly is warm, welcoming, and protective of her boardinghouse family. She falls for the man she thinks is C.J. Haskell, then learns Jimmy's true identity, triggering strong emotional and moral stakes. Her quick wit and loyalty keep the romance grounded amid the chaos of stunts and schemes.

💖 Loving 🧭 Independent

Charles 'C.J.' Haskell (Charles Winninger)

C.J. is the controlling patriarch who wants Jimmy to join the health food business, resisting music and showbiz. He embodies authority and business-minded stubbornness, serving as a foil to Jimmy's dream until the deception unfolds. His eventual reaction to the reveal drives the resolution of the plot.

🏢 Controlling 💼 Business-minded

Horace Heidt

Horace Heidt is the band leader whose musicians provide the soundtrack and backdrop for the show. His presence anchors the radio performances and helps connect Molly's boardinghouse to the larger showbiz world. The band acts as a catalyst for the romance and the competitive schemes.

🎺 Band Leader 🎷 Musical Presence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:54

Major Themes – Pot o’ Gold (1941)

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

🎭 Identity

Jimmy adopts the persona of C.J. Haskell to advance his dream of running the business and pleasing the band. This deception pulls Molly and others into his double life, creating tension and comedy. The discovery of his true identity threatens relationships and tests whether the ruse can hold.

🎶 Music & Showbiz

Music fuels the plot through Horace Heidt's band and the radio program that anchors the story. The boardinghouse becomes a rehearsal space and broadcast set, blending family life with stage-style performances. The film uses live music and promotions to propel romance and conflict.

💰 Money & Schemes

Molly's on-air pledge to give away $1000 weekly triggers a web of schemes to legally or financially deliver the prize. Jimmy navigates legal constraints highlighted by a federal investigator, forcing creative, risky solutions. The escalating publicity from the giveaways ultimately helps mend fences and secure a future together.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:54

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Pot o’ Gold Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Pot o’ Gold, 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.

Pot o’ Gold Summary

Pot o’ Gold Timeline

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Pot o’ Gold Timeline

More About Pot o’ Gold

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Pot o’ Gold (1941) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Pot o’ Gold (1941) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Pot o’ Gold (1941) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow