Rebellious Daughters

Rebellious Daughters

Year: 1938

Runtime: 69 mins

Language: English

Director: Jean Yarbrough

Drama

Girl moves out of her parents house against their wishes. Gets a job in a dress shop, gets mixed up with dirty pictures and blackmail.

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Timeline & Setting – Rebellious Daughters (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Rebellious Daughters (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New York, Barbara's home, Night club

The action shifts from Barbara's family home to New York City's nightlife and fashion scenes. The night club outings and the exclusive gown salon scene situate the film in a glamorous but risky urban world. New York provides a contrast between family constraints and the lure of independence for the young women.

🗽 New York 👗 Fashion 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:35

Main Characters – Rebellious Daughters (1938)

Meet the key characters of Rebellious Daughters (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Barbara 'Babe' Webster

A spoiled, emotionally neglected young woman who craves attention and approval from her parents. She schemes to escape home life, persuading her father and maneuvering with friends to spend an evening out. Her quick wit hides a willingness to take risks and push boundaries.

🎭 Drama 🧒 Youth 🧠 Morality

Claire Elliott

Mr. Elliott's daughter, torn between family expectations and a desire to break free. She yearns for a night of normalcy and fun, ultimately joining Babe's plans. She balances defiance with a sense of responsibility.

🎬 Drama 🧒 Youth 🧭 Morality

Mrs. Webster

Barbara's mother, cold and unaffectionate, who keeps a tight leash on her daughter's social life. Her absence in providing warmth compounds Babe's longing for attention. She represents the strict, controlling parent archetype.

🕯️ Drama 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Family 🧭 Morality

Dad Elliott

Barbara's father, often absent because he travels, which creates a gap Babe tries to fill. He is protective and reluctant to let his daughter go out. His absence becomes a catalyst for Babe's late-night plans.

🧭 Adventure 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Family 🕵️‍♂️ Morality

Mr. Gilman

Owner of an exclusive gown salon who lures the girls with modeling opportunities while running a blackmail racket. He embodies the seductive glamour that hides criminal manipulation. His plan tests the girls' ethics and loyalty.

👗 Fashion 🧩 Crime 🧭 Morality

Flo Russell

A glamorous woman who works for Mr. Gilman and recruits Babe and Claire to model for his salon. She becomes a bridge between the girls and the darker side of the fashion business. Her role reveals the allure and danger of exploiting ambition.

💄 Fashion 🎭 Drama 🧭 Morality

Bill Evans

A friend of Eddie and a male presence who arrives with plans and temptation. He is part of the night-out scheme and becomes entangled in the group's risky decisions. His presence amplifies the film's tension around consequences.

🎭 Drama 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Male Lead 🧭 Morality

Eddie

A friend who catalyzes Babe's plan to lift the evening from ordinary sadness into adventure. He pushes Babe toward finding someone to entertain and organize events with Bill Evans. He represents peer pressure and risky improvisation.

🎯 Peer Pressure 🧭 Morality 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:35

Major Themes – Rebellious Daughters (1938)

Explore the central themes of Rebellious Daughters (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Independence vs Control

Barbara 'Babe' Webster seeks autonomy in a restrictive family environment. The film follows her attempts to break free by leaving home and pulling her friends into plans that defy her parents. The tension between parental control and a young woman's desire for agency drives the story.

💰 Crime & Blackmail

Behind the glittering fashion world lies a darker subtext. Mr. Gilman runs a racket that uses staged photographs to blackmail wealthy clients. The girls are drawn into this web, revealing the danger and moral compromise behind appearances.

🎭 Performance & Illusion

Models and performers are used as pawns in a game of image and manipulation. The salon's model work masks a scheme that preys on the rich. The film critiques how glamour can be built on deception and fear.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:35

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Rebellious Daughters Summary

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Rebellious Daughters Summary

Rebellious Daughters Timeline

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Rebellious Daughters Timeline

More About Rebellious Daughters

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