Red-Headed Woman

Red-Headed Woman

Year: 1932

Runtime: 79 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack Conway

ComedyRomanceDrama

Lil, a cunning employee at the Legendre Company, lives by her own “Red‑Headed Woman’s Code” that any man, married or single, is fair game. She manipulates Bill into divorcing his wife Irene and marrying her, then embarks on an affair with businessman Gaerste, exploiting the relationship to compel society to notice her ambitions.

Red-Headed Woman (1932) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Red-Headed Woman (1932) 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.

In the modest town of Renwood, Ohio, the world revolves around quiet streets, well‑kept homes, and a corporate office that promises the promise of stability. Within the polished corridors of the Legendre Company, ambition glimmers like a hidden jewel, and the atmosphere buzzes with the unspoken expectations of the 1930s‑era social ladder. The tone is a blend of suave sophistication and razor‑sharp wit, a pre‑Code tapestry where desire and propriety constantly clash.

Lil Andrews, a striking red‑haired secretary, navigates this environment with a personal creed she calls the “Red‑Headed Woman’s Code.” She believes that any man—married or single—can become a stepping stone toward the life she covets. With a mixture of charm, strategic insight, and unapologetic confidence, she turns ordinary encounters into calculated opportunities, always keeping her eye on the next rung of society’s ladder.

Across the office floor, Bill Legendre Jr., the heir to the family business, embodies the respectable, yet restless, male figure at the center of Lil’s designs. His marriage to Irene presents a conventional portrait of domestic stability, while Lil’s fascination with power draws her toward the charismatic, affluent visitor Charles B. Gaerste, a coal magnate whose presence hints at a wider, glittering world beyond Renwood’s borders. Their intersecting desires create a simmering tension that underscores the film’s mood of seductive competition.

The story unfolds as Lil’s aspirations propel her from the familiar streets of her hometown toward the dazzling yet unforgiving glitter of high society. The contrast between small‑town propriety and the alluring promise of metropolitan elite fuels a narrative rich with intrigue, where each glance and whispered promise suggests a future built on ambition, allure, and the relentless pursuit of status.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:19

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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 about ambitious social climbers like Red-Headed Woman

Stories where a determined woman schemes her way up the social ladder.If you liked the cunning ambition of Lil in Red-Headed Woman, this list features movies about determined anti-heroines who manipulate their way to the top. These similar stories blend comedy, drama, and risqué social commentary for a fast-paced, entertaining experience.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread follow a clear cause-and-effect chain, driven by the protagonist's calculated seductions, betrayals, and strategic social moves. The journey is one of relentless upward mobility, often involving marital infidelity and the exploitation of wealthy men, but the consequences are treated as part of a cynical game.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on a specific character archetype—the ambitious, morally flexible social climber—and a tone that balances comedic presentation with the drama of personal manipulation.

Pre-Code risqué comedies with a similar vibe to Red-Headed Woman

Sly, humorous tales of scandal and social transgression from classic Hollywood.Fans of Red-Headed Woman will enjoy this collection of fast-paced classic comedies from the Pre-Code era. Discover similar movies that explore erotic relationships, social climbing, and marital infidelity with a sly, humorous, and surprisingly modern feel.

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Narrative Summary

These stories often unfold rapidly, featuring bold characters who flout conventional morality. The plots revolve around desire and ambition, moving quickly through a series of scandals and maneuvers. The endings are often bittersweet or ambiguous, acknowledging the hollowness of the protagonist's ambitions without descending into heavy tragedy.

Why These Movies?

This grouping is defined by a specific historical era and its stylistic hallmarks: a fast pace, a light tone that treats serious themes as entertainment, and a focus on topics that would soon be censored. The shared vibe is one of playful, cynical audacity.

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Red-Headed Woman Summary

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Red-Headed Woman Summary

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Red-Headed Woman Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Red-Headed Woman

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Red-Headed Woman

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