The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady

The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady

Year: 1950

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: David Butler

ComedyRomance

She’s the words and music in all America’s heart! An Irish horsecar driver’s daughter meets New York showman Tony Pastor and goes into vaudeville.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady (1950)

Trace every key event in The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady (1950) 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

End of the Spanish-American War and Dennis's family

With the Spanish-American War ending in 1898, Dennis O'Grady, a grumpy and overprotective Irish widower, is left to raise his three daughters. The postwar era frames a hard, bustling life around a family tied to vaudeville. Dennis's wary, protective instinct sets the emotional tone for what follows.

1898 Home
2

Katie returns home with marriage and pregnancy

Katie returns home with her husband James Moore, whom she married in secret, and she is pregnant. Dennis remains unaware of the marriage and pregnancy at first, fueling a protective tension. The secret will complicate trust and expectations within the household.

1898 Home
3

Patricia encounters Tony Pastor near his theater

Patricia and Maureen walk past Tony Pastor's vaudeville theater and encounter him again. Patricia recognizes the man from earlier that afternoon when he mocked her father. The brief recognition plants the seeds of a complicated relationship between the family and vaudeville.

1898 Near Tony Pastor's theater
4

Miklos counsels Dennis to warn his daughters

Miklos urges Dennis to warn his daughters about the immoral behavior of most men before it's too late. The warning comes with a legacy of Rosie’s death and fear of tragedy. Dennis remains unaware of his daughters' secret marriages and flirtations.

1898 Home
5

Patricia is caught with Tony; she lies he's a college student

Patricia is caught accompanying Tony; she lies by saying he is a college student to deflect her father's distrust. Dennis is impressed by Tony's charm and unaware of the truth behind his vaudeville connections. The deception deepens the rift between father and daughter.

1898 Home
6

Dennis decides Tony would be perfect to date Katie

Dennis is impressed by Tony and decides that he would be perfect to date Katie. He views Tony as a steady, respectable match despite the backstage world of vaudeville. This choice nudges him further away from Patricia and the career Tony represents.

1898 Home
7

Patricia wants to join Tony on stage; Tony urges truth

Patricia tells Tony that she wants to join him on the stage, hoping for a career in vaudeville. Tony counsels that she should tell her father the truth rather than continuing to lie. The exchange amplifies the conflict between honesty and family loyalty.

1898 Home
8

Dennis confronts Tony; Patricia secretly enters the stage

Dennis learns Tony's vaudeville connections and erupts in anger, locking Patricia in her room. She sneaks out to join Tony on stage anyway and quickly becomes a big hit. The success on stage strains their relationship and widens the generational divide. This moment crystallizes the family’s fracture.

1898 Theater stage
9

A daughter is pregnant with twins; Dennis drinks and faces police trouble

Dennis learns that one of his daughters is expecting twins and wrongly suspects Patricia. Devastated, he drinks and ends up in trouble with the police. The scandal deepens the family crisis and accelerates the rift.

1898 Home
10

Dennis disowns his daughters

In a furious reaction, Dennis disowns all his daughters, including the innocent Maureen. The family bond shatters as shame and anger drive a wedge between them. The fallout leaves the household fractured and hurting.

1898 Home
11

Dennis falls ill, lonely without his daughters

Lonely without his daughters, Dennis falls ill, his health eroding in their absence. The illness becomes a catalyst for reflection and a potential path to reconciliation. The quiet sickness mirrors the emotional toll of the estrangement.

1898-1899 Home
12

Patricia mobilizes the sisters to care for him

Patricia learns of her father's health from Miklos and quickly gathers her sisters and their men to care for him. Initial resentment lingers beneath the surface, but a sense of duty begins to replace pride. The family starts to move toward a fragile reunion.

1899 Home
13

Katie gives birth to triplets; Dennis softens

Dennis learns that Katie has just given birth to triplets, which softens his stance and makes him receptive to the family’s care. The birth becomes a turning point toward reconciliation and renewed ties. The fire of conflict begins to cool as new life enters the home.

1899 Home
14

Patricia and Tony become engaged

Patricia and Tony become engaged, signaling a personal victory amid the turmoil. The engagement hints at a future where family and show business can coexist. It marks the end of the immediate strife and a step toward unity.

1899 Theater

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:36

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The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady Summary

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The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady

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