The Housekeeper’s Daughter

The Housekeeper’s Daughter

Year: 1939

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: English

Director: Hal Roach

Comedy

DANGEROUS CURVES AHEAD! A mobster’s moll leads a newsman, cub reporter and photographer to a scoop.

The Housekeeper’s Daughter (1939) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Housekeeper’s Daughter (1939) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the bustling waterfront city where nightlights flicker off rain‑slicked streets, the air hums with a blend of elegance and menace. Hilda Kreemhild, weary of the shadowy life she shares with a hardened mobster, retreats to her mother’s modest home, where Olga tends the household of the cultured Randall family. The Randalls’ genteel world—quiet evenings, scholarly pursuits, and genteel conversation—offers a stark contrast to the gritty undercurrents that swirl just beyond their gates, setting the stage for a story that balances refinement with the inevitable pull of danger.

Amid this juxtaposition, the eager young cub reporter Robert arrives, hoping to launch a career far from the comfort of his sheltered upbringing. Guided by the seasoned, hard‑boiled ace crime reporter Deakon Maxwell and his loyal photographer sidekick Ed O’Malley, Robert steps into a frenetic newsroom where ambition and instinct collide. The trio’s chemistry crackles with a mix of sardonic wit and restless curiosity, while the enigmatic flower‑vendor Benny drifts through the streets, his unassuming presence hinting at hidden layers beneath the city’s bustling façade.

Together they are drawn into a tantalizing scoop that promises to expose the tangled links between respectable society and the seedy world Hilda seeks to escape. As the line between reporter and participant blurs, the film’s tone—sharp, smoky, and edged with danger—invites the audience to wonder how far a determined journalist will go for a story, and whether the allure of the criminal underworld can ever truly be left behind.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:06

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Screwball Crime Capers like The Housekeeper’s Daughter

High-stakes criminal plots collide with fast-talking, chaotic humor.Discover more movies like The Housekeeper’s Daughter where zany, fast-paced comedy meets criminal underworlds. If you enjoyed the mix of nerve-wracking gangster threats and drunken reporter antics, you'll love these similar films that deliver thrilling scoops and playful chaos.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow characters—often journalists, con artists, or unwitting participants—who get entangled in a criminal scheme. The narrative unfolds at a breakneck pace as the heroes use wit, charm, and chaotic improvisation to outsmart dangerous foes, leading to a climactic confrontation that resolves with a triumphant and happy ending.

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Movies are grouped here for their unique blend of a crime-based plot and a screwball comedic tone. They share a specific energy: fast pacing, light emotional weight despite medium-intensity stakes, and a playful approach to potentially dark subject matter like murder or deception.

Fast-Paced Newsroom Adventures like The Housekeeper’s Daughter

Plucky reporters chase a big story into dangerous and hilarious situations.If you liked the cub reporter's quest for a scoop in The Housekeeper’s Daughter, explore these similar movies. Find more thrilling and comedic stories about journalists chasing big breaks, facing danger, and causing chaos in the pursuit of front-page news.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows journalists—from seasoned pros to eager cubs—as they stumble upon or doggedly pursue a major story. The journey is filled with obstacles, from uncooperative sources to direct threats from the subjects of their investigation. The plot is propelled by deadlines and the competitive nature of the news business, culminating in a public vindication of their story.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their setting and protagonist focus: the newsroom. They share a specific vibe of fast-paced, professional urgency mixed with comedic character dynamics. The tone is typically light and witty, even when the stakes of the investigation are high.

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The Housekeeper’s Daughter Summary

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The Housekeeper’s Daughter Summary

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The Housekeeper’s Daughter Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Housekeeper’s Daughter

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Housekeeper’s Daughter

More About The Housekeeper’s Daughter

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