The Tuttles of Tahiti

The Tuttles of Tahiti

Year: 1942

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Charles Vidor

Comedy

After years away, Chester Tuttle returns to Tahiti to find his boisterous family unchanged. His scheming Uncle Jonas prefers dancing and romance to work, and loses the family plantation in a cockfight. Chester salvages an abandoned ship to rescue the estate, but a joint family bank account soon brings new complications.

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Timeline – The Tuttles of Tahiti (1942)

Trace every key event in The Tuttles of Tahiti (1942) 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

Chester returns home with fighting rooster

Chester Tuttle returns to Tahiti after several years away and is greeted by his carefree family. He brings a fighting rooster to enter in Jonas's cockfight against Emily, signaling the Tuttles' habit of relying on luck rather than labor. The reunion highlights their easygoing lifestyle and looming financial fragility.

Tahiti
2

Jensen moves debt to Blondin

Shrewd businessman Jensen convinces Dr. Blondin to transfer Jonas's mounting debt to him. The doctor agrees, and this rearrangement deepens the Tuttles' financial entanglements.

Tahiti
3

Jonas signs mortgage on the mansion

Convinced the rooster's victory is certain, Jonas signs a mortgage for the rundown family mansion, staking everything on the ring's outcome. The cock fails to win, the bird fleeing the ring and undermining the plan.

Tahiti
4

Tamara's fate and Emily's defiance

Chester notices Tamara has grown into a beautiful young woman, catching their eyes as a couple forms. The lovers realize Emily will not sanction Tamara's marriage to a penniless adventurer.

Tahiti
5

Family goes fishing to raise funds

To raise the mortgage, Chester, his brothers, and his nephew go fishing on their boat. A storm arises and they are presumed lost at sea, testing the family's bonds.

On the family's fishing boat, near Tahiti
6

Salvaging an abandoned ship

After the storm, the Tuttles survive and discover an abandoned ship adrift. Under salvage laws they claim ownership, setting the stage for a windfall that will redraw their fortunes.

Open sea near Tahiti
7

Jensen buys ship and cargo for 400,000 francs

Jensen purchases the ship and its cargo for an astonishing 400,000 francs, transforming the salvage into a massive potential stake in the Tuttles' future. The deal puts new pressure on the family as they face unexpected wealth.

Port of Tahiti
8

Family deposits money and allocates control

Ignoring Emily's advice to invest wisely, Jonas deposits the money in a joint checking account. He withdraws only what is needed to repay Blondin and gives checkbooks to everyone in the family.

Tahiti
9

Chester marries Tamara

With the new wealth, Chester is able to marry Tamara, changing her prospects and the family’s dynamic. The wedding marks a shift in status, even as tensions over money continue underneath.

Tahiti
10

Creditors descend and finances unravel

Creditors descend on Jonas, and the Tuttles spend the remaining wealth quickly. The spree strains relationships and accelerates their financial downfall.

Tahiti
11

Jensen arrives and takes the mansion

When Jensen comes to collect, Jonas cannot locate the saved money. Jensen takes possession of the mansion, threatening the Tuttle home.

Tuttle Mansion
12

Money is found by the rooster chase

While chasing Chester's rooster, Jensen discovers the misplaced money and returns it to Blondin. This timely find saves the Tuttle home from foreclosure.

Tuttle Estate
13

Blondin extends a loan for fuel

Impressed by the turn of events, Blondin offers Jonas a new loan to cover gas for the fishing boat. The loan provides a fragile lifeline for the Tuttles' livelihood.

Blondin's office

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:42

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Comedies about chaotic families like The Tuttles of Tahiti

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Stories in this thread typically begin with a family facing a significant, often self-inflicted, crisis like debt or a lost home. Instead of conventional solutions, they embark on a series of chaotic, improvised plans that create as many problems as they solve. The narrative is a steady flow of escalating mishaps, all smoothed over by the family's infectious optimism, leading to a resolution that reaffirms their bond.

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The narrative follows a clear pattern: a period of struggle, a sudden and unexpected acquisition of wealth, a montage of joyful and irresponsible spending, the inevitable return to crisis, and a final, clever solution that often involves the characters' unique talents. The journey emphasizes the fun of the misadventure over the moral lesson, resulting in a satisfying and happy conclusion.

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The Tuttles of Tahiti Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Tuttles of Tahiti

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Tuttles of Tahiti

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