Raggedy Man

Raggedy Man

Year: 1981

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack Fisk

Drama

In wartime Texas during World II, Nita, a divorced mother of two, works as a telephone operator and feels trapped in her small‑town routine. A fleeting friendship with a sailor on leave turns her world upside down, igniting town gossip but also giving her the courage to follow her heart.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Raggedy Man yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Raggedy Man (1981)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Raggedy Man (1981). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s, World War II era

The story unfolds in the early 1940s in a rural Texas town during World War II. Wartime mobilization reshapes employment and social norms, forcing sacrifices and altering daily life. A Navy sailor on leave provides a brief respite and a catalyst for romance amid the upheaval.

Location

Gregory, Texas

Gregory is a small Texas town where wartime shortages shape daily life. The local telephone switchboard is a lifeline for the community, and gossip runs as freely as the wind. War-era sacrifices touch everyday routines, from on-call work to limited job opportunities.

🏘️ Small town 🌾 Texas 🗺️ Rural community

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

Main Characters – Raggedy Man (1981)

Meet the key characters of Raggedy Man (1981), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Nita

A divorced, single mother and World War II telephone switchboard operator who is on call around the clock. She endures gossip and unwanted attention as she fights for a stable job and a safe life for her two sons.

👩‍💼 Single mother 🗣️ Gossip target 🧭 Wartime hardship

Teddy Roebuck

A US Navy sailor on leave who arrives seeking a pay phone and finds comfort and love with Nita. He forms a bond with her sons and shares a moment of escape from grief.

🌊 Navy 💞 Romance 🤝 Family bond

Harry

Harry, the father of Nita's sons, is a disfigured loner who is revealed to be the raggedy man. He ultimately steps in to protect his family, killing the two attackers out of a fierce sense of duty.

🧒 Father figure 🪡 Disfigured 🛡️ Protector

Henry

One of Nita's two sons, a young boy who endures harassment and danger as bullies target his family. He witnesses the town’s tensions and the turning point of violence.

🧒 Boy 💔 Innocence 😨 Fear

Calvin

One of the town bullies who attempts to intimidate Nita with his brother Arnold. Their actions escalate the conflict that ultimately leads to drastic consequences.

👦 Bully 🗨️ Intimidation 🗡️ Violent

Arnold

Calvin’s brother and partner in harassment; he drives the confrontation against Nita and her family before meeting his end at the raggedy man’s hands.

👦 Bully 🗣️ Aggression ⚡ Conflict

Rigby

Nita’s boss at the telephone company, who enforces wartime restrictions and rejects her request for a standard working schedule.

🏢 Authority 📵 Bureaucracy 🕰️ Wartime policy

Sheriff Watson

The town sheriff who dismisses Nita’s concerns about the raggedy man, reflecting a cautious attitude toward outsiders and danger.

🛡️ Law ⚖️ Authority 🗣️ Gossip

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

Major Themes – Raggedy Man (1981)

Explore the central themes of Raggedy Man (1981), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💪 Resilience

Nita and her sons navigate isolation, economic strain, and social scrutiny while holding their family together. The wartime context forces sacrifices, yet personal bonds provide strength. The film centers on steadfast endurance in the face of gossip and danger.

🗣️ Gossip & Social Pressure

Nita’s status as a divorced, single mother makes her a focal point for town chatter. Rumors about the raggedy stranger and the men who leer at her home intensify fear and scrutiny. The social climate shapes choices and fuels tension within the community.

🛡️ Protection & Sacrifice

A violent confrontation tests the safety of a close-knit town. The raggedy man, revealed to be Harry, intervenes to protect Nita and her sons, killing the would-be aggressors. Protection comes at a cost, redefining family bonds and neighborly trust.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

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 oppressive small towns like Raggedy Man

Stories where isolation and gossip create a palpable sense of dread.If you liked the tense, gossip-ridden setting of Raggedy Man, explore more movies where isolated characters face judgment and danger in small communities. These films share a slow-burning, atmospheric dread and a focus on the psychological impact of small-town life.

claustrophobictenseoppressivelonelygossip-riddenatmosphericmelancholicanxious

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow an outsider or non-conformist character navigating a tight-knit, often judgmental community. The central conflict arises from the clash between individual desire and collective expectation, with tension escalating gradually through whispers, threats, and the ever-present fear of being exposed or ostracized.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared setting-as-antagonist and a specific pacing of unease. They prioritize atmosphere over action, building a sense of entrapment and vulnerability that makes even small victories feel hard-won against an overwhelming social force.

Bittersweet wartime romance movies like Raggedy Man

Fleeting love stories shadowed by the imminent threat of conflict and loss.For viewers who enjoyed the fleeting, hopeful yet tragic romance in Raggedy Man, this collection features dramatic love stories set during wartime. These movies blend personal connection with external danger, leading to emotionally resonant and bittersweet conclusions.

bittersweethopefultensemelancholicwartimeromanticdramaticemotional

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves two characters finding solace and connection in each other amidst the uncertainty and danger of war. Their relationship offers a temporary escape but is constantly threatened by separation, societal pressures, or the violence of the conflict itself, often culminating in a parting or loss that lends a bittersweet weight to their time together.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by a unique emotional mix: the hopeful uplift of newfound love starkly contrasted with the grim reality of war. This creates a specific, emotionally complex viewing experience where joy is tempered by anxiety and endings are rarely simple or wholly happy.

Unlock the Full Story of Raggedy Man

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

Raggedy Man Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Raggedy Man, 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.

Raggedy Man Summary

Raggedy Man Timeline

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

Raggedy Man Timeline

More About Raggedy Man

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Raggedy Man: 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 Raggedy Man

Similar Movies to Raggedy Man

Discover movies like Raggedy Man 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.