The Affairs of Annabel

The Affairs of Annabel

Year: 1938

Runtime: 68 mins

Language: English

Director: Benjamin Stoloff

Comedy

Wonder Pictures has been striking out at the box office lately, causing the seedy PR man to involve main star Annabel in ever outrageous stunts for publicity.

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Timeline & Setting – The Affairs of Annabel (1938)

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

Time period

Location

Wonder Pictures studio, Fletcher residence

The action centers around the Wonder Pictures studio, where publicity stunts drive Annabel's career and a string of movie plots are manufactured. The Fletcher residence becomes a setting for domestic life interrupted by the film industry's schemes. The studio's publicity machine blurs lines between real life and fiction, with actors playing multiple roles on screen and off.

🎬 Studio 🏠 House

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:17

Main Characters – The Affairs of Annabel (1938)

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

Annabel Allison (Lucille Ball)

A famous actress used by the studio to generate publicity, who is both charismatic and wary of being reduced to a stunt. She navigates the pranks and crises caused by Lanny Morgan, and ultimately asserts agency in dangerous situations.

🎭 Actress 🗞️ Media sensation 💪 Empowered

Lanny Morgan (Jack Oakie)

The showman publicity man at Wonder Pictures who crafts elaborate stunts to keep headlines alive. He is opportunistic and clever, driving the plot with schemes that backfire and force him to improvise.

🎭 Promoter 🧭 Schemer

Major (Thurston Hall)

An inventor and the focal point of the studio's latest publicity angle, treated as both genius and instrument of manipulation. His work with a rubber-ring invention adds a layer of comic science to the plot.

🧪 Inventor 🧠 Intellectual

Robert Fletcher (Lee Van Atta)

The Fletcher family son who becomes infatuated with Annabel, adding a layer of domestic tension to the publicity-driven plot. He is curious and impressionable, caught between family life and the spectacle around him.

👦 Teenager 💘 Infatuation

Mrs. Fletcher (Elisabeth Risdon)

The mother of Robert and a grounded presence in the Fletcher household. She navigates the disruptions caused by the studio's schemes while maintaining domestic stability.

👩‍🦳 Matriarch 🏡 Family anchor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:17

Major Themes – The Affairs of Annabel (1938)

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

🎬 Publicity

The film uses publicity stunts as a central engine, showing how a studio manufactures celebrity and momentum around a star. Annabel's career and Lanny's schemes hinge on sensational headlines, mug shots, and staged dangers. The plot examines the cost of fame when life becomes a staged performance.

🗞️ Media Manipulation

News and press coverage propel the story, with mug shots and movies used as tools of manipulation. Characters exploit media attention to control outcomes, including hired publicity and fake scandals. The line between truth and spectacle is repeatedly blurred in public, tabloids, and film bills.

💪 Empowerment

Annabel demonstrates agency by resisting manipulation and defending herself with training. The plot places a female lead in a position of practical power, not just glamorous facade. Her actions challenge the expectations of the publicity machine and reveal inner strength.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:17

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The Affairs of Annabel Summary

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The Affairs of Annabel Summary

The Affairs of Annabel Timeline

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The Affairs of Annabel Timeline

More About The Affairs of Annabel

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More About The Affairs of Annabel

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