So’s Your Aunt Emma!

So’s Your Aunt Emma!

Year: 1942

Runtime: 62 mins

Language: English

Director: Jean Yarbrough

ComedyCrime

Every day feels like April Fool’s Day when the henchmen and their associates in a gang mistake the mild‑mannered Aunt Emma for a notorious gun moll from Missouri. The bewildered, elderly spinster is swept into a chaotic world of a crooked boxing racket and a string of gangland murders, pulling her humor into the criminal underworld.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – So’s Your Aunt Emma! (1942)

Trace every key event in So’s Your Aunt Emma! (1942) 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

Emma travels to New York City to see the fight

Emma Bates, an old spinster, decides to travel to New York City to see the boxing match featuring Mickey O'Banion. She leaves her sisters behind, who are appalled by the decision. The visit sets the stage for a web of crime and romance that drives the rest of the story.

New York City
2

Emma arrives and receives a spare ticket

Emma arrives in the city without tickets and finds the fight sold out. Reporter Terry Connors offers his spare ticket, allowing her to witness the event. This chance encounter links Emma to the evolving crime plot and Terry's gaze into the underworld.

Boxing venue, New York City
3

Terry's assignment and his breakup

Terry, who usually covers crime, is reassigned to sports but continues chasing the Rex Crenshaw kidnapping. He skips a planned visit to the marriage license office, triggering a furious breakup with his fiancée Maris. The personal and professional stakes begin to intertwine.

New York City
4

Suspicion falls on Hammond as Crenshaw's case looms

At the fight, Terry suspects Mickey's manager Gus Hammond of involvement with the Crenshaw kidnapping because Crenshaw represented Hammond's rival. The suspicion deepens the clash between boxing and criminal power. The stage is set for a confrontation between Terry's journalist instincts and the gang's schemes.

Boxing venue
5

Joe and Duke mistake Emma for Ma Parker

Two of Hammond's henchmen, Joe and Duke, spot Terry talking with Emma and mistake her for Ma Parker, the feared mob figure. They warn or threaten Emma, thinking she is meddling in their mob business. The mistaken identity raises the danger Emma faces.

Boxing venue
6

Henderson's order and Zelda's ploy

Flower Henderson, Hammond's rival, spots Hammond at the fight and orders his own goons to deal with Joe and Duke. Henderson also instructs Zelda to charm Mickey into a favorable position. The criminal web tightens around Emma and the fight crew.

Henderson's circle
7

Mickey's fixed victory

The fight ends with Mickey's fixed victory, delivering the outcome the gangs expect. The crowd believes the result is legitimate while behind the scenes the organizers are manipulating the match. Hidden control of the fight world becomes evident.

Boxing venue
8

Emma seeks to train Mickey at her country home

Emma goes to Mickey's dressing room after the bout and tries to persuade him to train at her country home. She uses her Ma Parker persona to present herself as a tough mentor. The suggestion ties Mickey’s future to Emma's plan and to her influence over her sisters.

Mickey's dressing room
9

Joe and Duke killed; Emma becomes a suspect

Henderson's men kill Joe and Duke, and Emma is quickly branded a suspect since she was the last person seen talking to them. The accusation threatens to derail her alliance with Terry and complicates the investigation. Emma negotiates to clear her name as the case widens.

Near boxing venue
10

Emma and Terry visit Henderson's nightclub

Emma and Terry visit Henderson's nightclub, where Maris has begun performing. Zelda keeps pressuring Mickey and trying to tip Hammond off with a phone call. The club setting intensifies the entangled loyalties and deceptions.

Henderson's nightclub
11

An envelope and a new fight deal

One of Henderson's men tries to secure a deal for the next fight with Mickey. Terry steals an envelope meant to be delivered from Henderson and gives it to Emma to guard, sensing a larger scoop. The pieces of the criminal scheme start to come into focus.

Henderson's network
12

Mickey shot, hospital plan to infiltrate

Hammond shoots Mickey at the hospital, sending him into treatment. Emma and Terry decide that Emma should infiltrate Henderson's gang by posing as Ma Parker to locate Rex Crenshaw. The plan heightens the danger as Emma risks her life in the Crenshaw case.

Hospital
13

Emma infiltrates; Hammond kills Henderson; hostages

Emma poses as Ma Parker to infiltrate Henderson's gang, but Hammond rushes in and shoots Henderson. Emma is kidnapped along with Maris as a hostage, raising the stakes for Terry's rescue mission. The double-cross leaves everyone racing against time.

Henderson's hideout
14

Rescue at the hideout

Terry, joined by detective Miller, tracks Hammond to the hideout and storms the location. They rescue all missing persons, including Rex Crenshaw, and bring the criminals to justice. The scoop finally yields a legitimate breakthrough.

Henderson's hideout
15

Aftermath and new beginnings

Terry receives a promotion, a raise, and a two-week honeymoon in recognition of his achievement. Mickey accompanies Emma to the country and begins training under her tough Ma Parker persona, while she introduces him to her two sisters. A new life in the country marks the end of the adventure.

Newsroom and country house

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:18

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Characters, Settings & Themes in So’s Your Aunt Emma!

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