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The April Fools (1969) movie poster

Plot Summary

The April Fools (1969) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1969 · 95 min · English
Directed by
Stuart Rosenberg
Starring
Catherine Deneuve, Melinda Dillon, Jack Weston, Myrna Loy, Kenneth Mars, Jack Lemmon

A meticulous stockbroker's predictable life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes infatuated with his boss's alluring wife at a glamorous social gathering. They abandon their everyday lives and embark on a playful journey to Paris, the City of Love. As they navigate this new adventure, they find themselves entangled in a humorous and deceptive game, questioning the nature of reality and the boundaries of their affections.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The April Fools
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The April Fools (1969)

Where can you watch The April Fools? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The April Fools: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The April Fools (1969) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The film opens at an extravagant Wall Street party, hosted by the charming yet manipulative Ted, Howard's Boss and the CEO of a major Wall Street firm. This lively event serves as a gathering for affluent Wall Street traders and their associates, all eager to mingle and impress potential romantic partners. Ted takes it upon himself to encourage Howard, introducing him to the art of successfully attracting women, guiding him through the maze of flirtation with a sense of bravado. Yet, much to Howard's dismay, he feels quite out of place. He awkwardly makes his rounds, finding it difficult to connect with any of the numerous intoxicated, alluring, yet somewhat crude women attending the lavish affair.

Amidst the chaos of the party, Howard crosses paths with Catherine, who, like him, seems disenchanted by the overwhelming atmosphere and the ostentatious characters surrounding them. As they navigate through the crowd, they share a fleeting moment of understanding, and an instant attraction blossoms between them. Recognizing that they both desire something more refined, they decide to escape the raucous celebration in search of a more civilized environment. As Catherine gathers her coat, Ted hands Howard a key to a nightclub he considers his "second home," dubbing it The Safari Club.

Once they hail a cab and arrive at The Safari Club, Howard is taken aback by the outlandish scene. The atmosphere is filled with scantily clad women acting as though they were from a primal, prehistoric world, housed in cages as if on display. In a bizarre twist, male patrons are equipped with pop guns to humorously shoot at the women. Unbeknownst to Howard, he has yet to learn that Catherine is, in fact, Ted's wife. Realizing that they have stumbled upon another ridiculous scene akin to the party they just left, the two agree that perhaps they should find somewhere else to continue their night.

Catherine suggests they go dancing, leading them to a trendy club featuring live music where they can let loose and truly enjoy themselves. It is at this lively venue that Catherine encounters an astrologist, who reveals to her that Ted is not an ideal love match, but rather, Howard is her perfect counterpart. Intrigued, Catherine begins to see the weight of this revelation.

In a moment of vulnerability, Catherine confesses her desire to leave Ted the very next day, yearning to return to her hometown of Paris. In an equally impulsive decision, Howard decides to leave his uncaring wife behind—and his son, who appears indifferent to his father's existence—and join Catherine on her flight to freedom in Paris.

As the plot unfolds, we witness the various obstacles Howard faces in order to board the plane with Catherine. Ted, fully aware of his wife's intentions, goes to great lengths to win her back, further complicating Howard's quest for love and happiness. After a series of comedic yet heart-wrenching events, Howard ultimately prevails and manages to board the plane just in the nick of time. The film concludes with a poignant moment, as the two hold hands, signaling the start of their new journey together in Paris.

Last updated: January 19, 2025 at 18:49

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Plot questions answered

The April Fools Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The April Fools (1969): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Catherine decide to leave Ted?

Catherine decides to leave Ted because she feels emotionally disconnected from him and trapped in an unfulfilling marriage. At the Wall Street party, she shares Howard's discomfort with the vulgar atmosphere and finds genuine connection with him. The astrologist's prediction that Howard is her perfect match further validates her desire to escape her current life and return to her hometown of Paris.

Foreshadowing: Earlier at the party, Catherine and Howard bond over their mutual disillusionment with the pretentious crowd, hinting at her readiness to leave Ted.

  • catherine
  • ted
  • marriage
  • divorce
  • paris
  • escape
Q2

Why does Howard leave his wife and son for Catherine?

Howard leaves his wife and son because he feels emotionally neglected and unimportant in his own home. The summary reveals his wife is uncaring and his son appears indifferent to his father's existence, making Howard feel invisible and unvalued. Meeting Catherine, who genuinely connects with him, represents an opportunity for a fresh start and the romantic fulfillment he lacks at home.

Foreshadowing: Howard's discomfort at the party and inability to connect with any women there reflects his existing emotional disconnection at home.

  • howard
  • family
  • wife
  • son
  • affair
  • escape
Q3

Why is Howard uncomfortable at the Wall Street party?

Howard feels out of place at the extravagant Wall Street party because he is uncomfortable with the raunchy behavior and drunken revelry of the attendees. Despite his boss Ted's encouragement to mingle and seduce women, Howard finds the vulgar atmosphere off-putting and struggles to connect with any of the intoxicated, crude partygoers.

Foreshadowing: Ted's aggressive encouragement of Howard to partake in the party's debauchery highlights Howard's misalignment with this world.

  • howard
  • party
  • wall street
  • discomfort
  • awkward
Q4

What does the astrologist tell Catherine about her future?

At the hipster club, an astrologist tells Catherine that her husband Ted is not a good match for her. More surprisingly, the astrologist predicts that Howard is her perfect match, which catalyzes Catherine's decision to leave Ted and pursue a relationship with Howard.

Foreshadowing: This moment occurs shortly after Catherine and Howard share genuine joy dancing together, suggesting their connection is already developing naturally.

  • astrologist
  • prediction
  • fate
  • catherine
  • howard
  • perfect match
Q5

Why does Ted try to stop Howard and Catherine from leaving?

Ted attempts to stop Howard and Catherine because he wants to win back his wife despite his manipulative and charming nature. Even though he encourages other men to pursue women, Ted is emotionally attached to Catherine and goes to great lengths to prevent her from leaving, creating obstacles for Howard as he tries to board the plane to Paris.

Foreshadowing: Ted's initial charm and control at the party hint at his unwillingness to let go of what he considers his possessions.

  • ted
  • catherine
  • howard
  • confrontation
  • obstacles
Q6

How does Howard manage to board the plane to Paris?

Howard overcomes a series of comedic yet heart-wrenching obstacles set up by Ted to prevent him from leaving. Despite these challenges, he reaches the boarding gate at the very last moment and manages to board the plane with Catherine, symbolizing his triumph over adversity and commitment to their new life together.

Foreshadowing: The buildup of obstacles Ted creates demonstrates the extent of Howard's determination to be with Catherine.

  • howard
  • plane
  • paris
  • boarding
  • obstacles
  • triumph
Q7

What is the purpose of The Safari Club scene?

The Safari Club scene serves to highlight how both Howard and Catherine share similar tastes and values, rejecting the absurd and vulgar entertainment that defines Ted's world. The club features scantily clad women in cages and male patrons with pop guns, which both Howard and Catherine find ridiculous. Their shared disappointment reinforces their connection and desire to find something more meaningful.

Foreshadowing: This scene immediately follows their departure from the party, showing their mutual rejection of Ted's lifestyle.

  • safari club
  • catherine
  • howard
  • rejection
  • absurd
Q8

Why does Catherine want to return to Paris?

Catherine wants to return to Paris because it represents freedom and a fresh start away from her unhappy marriage to Ted. Paris is her hometown, symbolizing a return to her roots and an escape from the superficial, manipulative world of her husband. Her desire to go there signifies her yearning for a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Foreshadowing: Catherine's discontent at the Wall Street party foreshadows her desire to escape to a place where she can be herself.

  • catherine
  • paris
  • hometown
  • freedom
  • escape
Q9

What draws Howard and Catherine together?

Howard and Catherine are drawn together because they both feel out of place at the Wall Street party and share a mutual desire for something more refined and genuine. Their connection deepens as they escape the vulgar atmosphere together, dance at the hipster club, and discover their shared longing for authentic connection and escape from their unhappy marriages.

Foreshadowing: Their initial meeting is marked by a fleeting moment of understanding amid the chaos of the party.

  • howard
  • catherine
  • attraction
  • connection
  • escape
Q10

What happens at the end of the movie?

The movie ends with Howard successfully boarding the plane to Paris at the last moment after overcoming Ted's obstacles. Once on the airplane, Howard and Catherine sit together and hold hands, symbolizing the start of their new journey together and their commitment to choosing love and freedom over their past lives.

Foreshadowing: This ending fulfills the foreshadowing from the astrologist's prediction and validates their risky decisions to leave their marriages.

  • ending
  • plane
  • paris
  • holding hands
  • new beginning

Movie threads

More Movies Like The April Fools, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The April Fools tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Sophisticated romantic escapes like The April Fools

Charming stories of impulsive lovers leaving their old lives for a glamorous adventure. If you enjoyed the charming spontaneity of The April Fools, you'll love these movies. This list features similar romantic comedies and dramas where characters impulsively escape their lives for a whimsical adventure, filled with glamour, hope, and a happy ending.

  • escapist
  • romantic
  • playful
  • hopeful
  • whimsical
  • sophisticated
  • Tone: whimsical, hopeful, playful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a character feeling trapped by their mundane or unfulfilling life. A chance encounter with an alluring figure sparks an impulsive decision to run away together. Their journey is a series of playful, whimsical escapades in beautiful locations, with minimal serious conflict, ultimately culminating in a triumphant and happy resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared vibe of optimistic escapism. They blend a light emotional weight with a whimsical tone and steady pacing, focusing on the thrilling fantasy of starting over rather than the gritty consequences, resulting in an overall uplifting and charming experience.

Playful stories of illicit affairs like The April Fools

Stories where a forbidden attraction leads to a humorous and deceptive game. For viewers who liked the playful deception and romantic thrill in The April Fools, this collection features similar movies about charming illicit affairs. These stories focus on the humorous complications and lighthearted adventure of a forbidden relationship, rather than its heavy consequences.

  • illicit romance
  • playful
  • deceptive
  • disenchanted
  • impulsive
  • social satire
  • Tone: whimsical, romantic, disenchanted
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot revolves around a protagonist drawn into a romantic relationship that is socially forbidden, often involving a married partner. The journey is defined by the couple's need for deception and the comical situations that arise from maintaining their secret. The narrative treats the affair as a thrilling adventure, downplaying serious moral dilemmas in favor of humor and romantic fulfillment.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific focus on the 'illicit romance' topic but handle it with a light touch. The similarity lies in the combination of romantic yearning, a steady pace of comedic complications, and a tone that is more whimsical and hopeful than tense or tragic, making the affair feel like a delightful escapade.

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Movies Like The April Fools

Similar movies to The April Fools: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

The April Fools (1969) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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