Year: 1949
Runtime: 99 mins
Language: English
Director: Michael Curtiz
Jennifer Smith runs a consumer‑advocacy firm built on her reputation for absolute honesty. During a leisurely outing on her boat she stumbles upon a secret prototype submarine piloted by the charismatic Bill Craig. When her boat sinks, she struggles to explain her absence, while Bill and his allies work to discredit her story and undermine her credibility.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen The Lady Takes a Sailor 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Jennifer Smith is the head of the Buyer’s Research Institute, and she is in urgent need of additional funding to keep the operation afloat. The Tyson Institute has stepped in with an offer, and she marks the moment by celebrating with Susan Wayne, her friend and business partner, at Susan’s sun-kissed beach house on Long Island.
During a day at sea, Jennifer is out sailing when a fierce storm capsizes her boat near an underwater vehicle run by a man who goes by the name Davy Jones. He presents himself as a zoologist studying underwater life, and reluctantly saves her. He agrees to drop her ashore, but not before slipping sleeping pills into her drink. When the storm clears, Davy leaves her on the beach, where Susan Wayne and the Coast Guard have been searching for her. Susan believes Jennifer must have imagined the encounter and the mysterious vehicle, dismissing the sensational tale.
Back home, Jennifer tries to prove she didn’t dream it by pulling up photographs of the underwater vehicle from her camera, only to discover that the film seems to be missing. Word of her wild story reaches the Tyson Institute, and the funding offer is withdrawn. Furious but resolute, Jennifer resolves to prove that both Davy Jones and the underwater vehicle truly exist, and she heads out to find them.
What Jennifer doesn’t know is that Davy Jones is actually Bill Craig, a submarine engineer on a secret government mission. One night, while out with her fiancé, Ralph Whitcomb, at a club, Jennifer spots Raquel Riviera, a singer whose photos appeared in the underwater vehicle. Raquel Riviera denies knowing Davy. Davy himself arrives, and Jennifer confronts him, demanding the return of her film. Bill claims she must be mistaken and leaves with Raquel. Jennifer and Ralph follow, and when they briefly abandon their car, Jennifer breaks into it to search for identification and the film, but finds nothing.
Jennifer then hires Henry Duckworth as a private detective to help her uncover the truth. Bill learns of Henry’s stakeout and traps him in his apartment; Henry escapes, and Bill offers as much explanation as he can without revealing top-secret information. Jennifer, meanwhile, manages to reclaim her film. She is scheduled to meet with Susan, Henry, and a Tyson Institute representative to clear her name and secure funding, but Bill tracks her down and again attempts to steal the film. He crashes into the Tyson representative’s car, and both men return to the meeting. Faced with the moment of truth, Jennifer—who has fallen in love with Bill—decides to protect him and tells everyone that she made up the entire story. The funding is withdrawn, and Jennifer ends up starting a new life with Bill.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:19
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.
Spirited romances where a charming chase is built on a foundation of lies.If you enjoyed the playful lies and charming pursuit in The Lady Takes a Sailor, you'll love these movies. This collection features lighthearted romantic comedies where secret identities and clever deceptions create a whirlwind of misunderstandings and a fast-paced, fun chase dynamic between the leads.
These stories typically begin with an inciting deception, often involving a secret identity or a necessary lie. The plot quickly escalates into a cat-and-mouse game as one character works to uncover the truth while the other works just as hard to maintain the ruse. The central conflict is a battle of wits and charm, with romantic attraction growing amidst the chaos of near-misses and comedic misunderstandings.
Movies in this thread share a specific blend of fast-paced romantic comedy with a suspenseful, yet light, undercurrent of deception. They prioritize witty banter, playful tension, and a feeling of a merry chase, where the journey of uncovering the lie is as enjoyable as the eventual happy romantic resolution.
Stories of determined professional women whose competence is publicly questioned.Fans of Jennifer Smith's struggle in The Lady Takes a Sailor will appreciate these stories. This thread gathers films featuring determined career women who must battle against doubters and sabotage to prove their sanity and professional worth, often with a romantic subplot adding to the tension.
The protagonist is established as a pinnacle of professional competence. An external event or a manipulative character throws her credibility into question, causing colleagues and the public to doubt her. The central journey involves her mounting a determined, often frustrating, campaign to uncover the truth and clear her name, balancing this professional crisis with personal entanglements.
These films are grouped by their focus on a specific character arc: a woman's fight for professional vindication. They blend themes of determination and resilience with the emotional stakes of public humiliation and the struggle to be believed, creating a compelling mix of personal and professional drama.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Lady Takes a Sailor in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Lady Takes a Sailor is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Lady Takes a Sailor with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Lady Takes a Sailor. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Lady Takes a Sailor that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Lady Takes a Sailor: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like The Lady Takes a Sailor that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like The Lady Takes a Sailor – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
The Lady Eve (1941) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Ladies’ Choice (1982) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Lady with a Past (1932) Full Movie Breakdown
Why Girls Love Sailors (1927) Story Summary & Characters
The Lady Has Plans (1942) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
The Sailor Takes a Wife (1945) Story Summary & Characters
The Glass Bottom Boat (1966) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
The Law and the Lady (1951) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Sailors, Beware! (1927) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Sailor’s Lady (1940) Full Summary & Key Details
Ship Ahoy (1942) Ending Explained & Film Insights
The Fleet’s In (1942) Story Summary & Characters
The Keyhole (1933) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Give Me a Sailor (1938) Movie Recap & Themes
Who Was That Lady? (1960) Complete Plot Breakdown