Rose Marie

Rose Marie

Year: 1954

Runtime: 115 mins

Language: English

Director: Mervyn LeRoy

MusicComedy

Set in the Canadian wilderness, orphan Rose Marie Lemaitre falls for her guardian, Mountie Mike Malone, and their love is reciprocated. When she departs for etiquette lessons, she encounters trapper James Duval, who also woos her. Tensions rise after the murder of Native American chief Black Eagle, a rival of Duval, adding intrigue to this colorful Cinemascope musical.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Rose Marie (1954)

Trace every key event in Rose Marie (1954) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Rose Marie captured and brought to Fort Macroy

Officer Mike Malone spots Rose Marie near a river and apprehends her, convinced the wilderness is not a suitable home for a woman. He escorts her to Fort Macroy, where her rebellious streak immediately appears as she challenges authority. To keep watch, Mike assigns veteran corporal Barney McCorkle to monitor her.

early Fort Macroy
2

Appleby arrives and rebukes Mike

Inspector Appleby comes to inspect Mike's cavalry and reproves him for admitting a woman into the ranks. Mike admits he has always seen Rose Marie as a child, revealing the strength of his protective feelings. The exchange foreshadows the friction between duty and personal attachments.

early Fort Macroy
3

Rose Marie sent to Maple Rock; woods encounter

Appleby orders Rose Marie sent to Maple Rock, despite her protests. She runs into the woods, and Mike follows, telling her that she will become a respectable woman. The move sets Rose Marie on a path of training and reinvention away from the city.

mid Maple Rock
4

Meeting with James and the cougar scare

On the road to Maple Rock, Rose Marie and Mike meet James, a fur trapper. A cougar startles Rose Marie’s horse, creating a tense moment that underscores the dangers of the frontier. The animal is later killed, easing immediate danger but raising lingering threats.

mid On the road to Maple Rock
5

Rose Marie placed under Lady Jane Dunstock's care

Mike brings Rose Marie to Maple Rock and places her under the care of Lady Jane Dunstock. Rose Marie begins adapting to new company and expectations in this sheltered environment. Mike's protective influence continues to complicate their evolving relationship.

mid Maple Rock
6

Mike falls in love; struggles to write

Over time, Mike falls in love with Rose Marie, but his official duties complicate the romance. He struggles to compose a letter to her, hesitant to blur professional boundaries. The budding romance becomes a central tension that drives the story.

mid-late Maple Rock
7

Ballroom lessons and charity dance invitation

Lady Jane trains Rose Marie in ballroom dancing to help her blend into town life. James appears outside the window, hinting at a growing love triangle. Jane invites James to the charity dance later that night, setting up a dramatic social gathering.

evening Maple Rock
8

James negotiates land; disruption at the charity dance

James travels to an Indigenous village and negotiates land with Chief Black Eagle, offering money that is doubled in price. He vows to pay, but his scheme culminates in robbing the charity dance and returning the loot. The confrontation intensifies tensions around Rose Marie.

evening Indigenous village near Peace River
9

Rose Marie and James fall in love again; proposed land deal

Rose Marie slips away to the woods and rekindles her romance with James. The next day, James tries to propose to the Chief by offering land in exchange for gold, but Black Eagle refuses. Mike waits outside the village and warns James to stay away from Rose Marie.

next day Indigenous village
10

Mike proposes; Rose Marie hesitates

Mike returns to Maple Rock to see Rose Marie and makes a formal proposal. She is unsure at first, and his kiss and question about a future together leaves her torn between a life in town and her feelings for him. The moment heightens the emotional stakes.

evening Maple Rock
11

James abducts Rose Marie to a totem ceremony; Wanda jealous

James forcibly takes Rose Marie to an Indigenous totem summer ceremony, triggering Wanda’s jealousy. Wanda’s anger leads to further danger as James invites Rose Marie to a fur trapping expedition and they plan to meet at Golden Rock the next day. The tension between love, jealousy, and loyalty escalates.

night Indigenous village; Golden Rock
12

Wanda kills Chief; Mike investigates; Rose Marie identifies knife

Wanda fights back and kills Chief Black Eagle after being spurned by James. Mike investigates the murder, and Rose Marie identifies James’s knife as the weapon. The crime deepens the peril surrounding Rose Marie and binds James to increasingly risky actions.

night Indigenous village
13

Mike arranges James’s release to stand trial; verdict follows

Mike finds James tied to a stake and negotiates his release so he can be prosecuted properly. The trial eventually takes place, and James is found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang. Rose Marie pleads with Mike for James’s innocence, leaving him stunned by her loyalty and love.

night Fort Macroy
14

Barney’s promotion and Rose Marie’s final choice

Barney is promoted to sergeant at the fort, reflecting shifting authority. Mike informs Rose Marie that James has been freed after Wanda’s confession, changing the dynamics of their relationship. Rose Marie declares she will be with James rather than stay in town, and Mike reluctantly respects her decision.

ending Fort Macroy

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:39

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