The Wicked Lady

The Wicked Lady

Year: 1945

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: Leslie Arliss

AdventureHistoryDramaCrime drugs and gangstersPassion and romance

The most daring pair danger ever designed! A married woman finds new thrills as a masked robber on the highways.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Wicked Lady 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 Wicked Lady (1945)

Trace every key event in The Wicked Lady (1945) 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

Barbara arrives for Caroline's wedding

In rural England, Caroline invites her beautiful friend Barbara to attend her marriage to the wealthy Sir Ralph Skelton. Barbara uses charm and beauty to set her sights on becoming Lady Skelton. Her plotting begins to tilt the balance of power within the marriage arrangements. The arrival marks the first step toward the ensuing drama.

Late 17th century Rural England (Caroline's home)
2

Barbara becomes Lady Skelton at the wedding

Barbara wins Skelton's affection and is elevated to Lady Skelton during the wedding celebration. Caroline watches as Barbara takes her place beside the wealthy magistrate. The marriage ceremony solidifies Barbara's new social standing and begins a shift in the household's dynamics. The audience sees the price of manipulation start to rise.

Wedding day Skelton estate, wedding hall
3

Kit Locksby meets Barbara at the reception

At the wedding reception, Barbara meets Kit Locksby, a handsome stranger, and instant attraction sparks. Both feel love at first sight, though the wedding will not be undone easily. The encounter hints at a possible future away from the corral of marriage and duty.

Same day Skelton estate, reception
4

Henrietta's Ombre game and the jewel loss

Henrietta, Barbara's sister-in-law, visits and challenges Barbara in a game of Ombre. Henrietta wins Barbara's jewels, including her mother's ruby brooch, fueling Barbara's later schemes. The loss plants the seed of Barbara's later disguises and crimes.

Shortly after the wedding Skelton estate parlor
5

Barbara conceives of masquerading as Jerry Jackson

A remark about the notorious highwayman Jerry Jackson inspires Barbara to disguise herself as him. She stops Henrietta's coach and retrieves the brooch and other jewels, reclaiming her status by theft. The disguise marks the turning point where she becomes a roving criminal rather than a disgruntled wife.

Soon after On the road near the estate
6

Barbara and Jackson team up

Barbara begins to waylay coaches and eventually meets the real Jerry Jackson, who is amused to find his imitator is a beautiful woman. They become lovers and partners in crime, with Barbara insisting he remain faithful to her. Their alliance tightens as they plan more lucrative robberies.

Shortly after Various roads and inns
7

The failed gold shipment robbery and Barbara's murder

They plot a raid on a large gold shipment, but the plan goes awry. Barbara shoots and kills one of Sir Ralph Skelton's tenants in the confusion. The murder marks a deepening descent into violence and danger.

During the attempt On the road during the heist
8

Barbara manipulates the servant and feigns reform

A Skelton servant discovers Barbara's involvement but she convinces him that Jackson forced her to be his accomplice. She exploits the servant's religious piety, claiming she wants to live an honest life and needs him to guide her.

After the heist Skelton estate, servant's quarters
9

The servant's murder

Pretending to be devout, Barbara secretly poisons the servant. When he falls gravely ill and sees through her ruse, she smothers him with a pillow. Her ruthlessness becomes more evident as she eliminates a key witness.

Soon after Servant's sickroom
10

Barbara betrays Jackson; Jackson is captured and hanged

Ecstatic at her renewed freedom, Barbara travels to the inn where she and Jackson stayed and discovers him with another woman. She betrays his whereabouts to Ralph, leading to Jackson's capture and his sentence to hang.

Following the inn confrontation Inn; later London
11

London execution and the riot

In London, Barbara attends Jackson's execution with Caroline, who refuses to watch. Jackson's speech focuses on faithless women and does not name Barbara. A note from a priest sends money to the other woman, triggering a riot when her carriage is attacked.

Execution day London, scaffold and surrounding streets
12

Kit rescues the ladies and Jackson's revival

Kit Locksby rescues Caroline and Barbara after the hanging. Jackson's accomplices cut him down and revive him. He later breaks into Barbara's bedroom and rapes her, illustrating the danger that persists behind their alliance.

After the hanging London and Barbara's estate
13

The final confrontation on the road

Late at night, Barbara, in highwayman's gear, waits for Sir Ralph's coach with a pistol. Jackson arrives, tries to warn Ralph, but Barbara shoots him. The coach finally arrives; Kit emerges from the coach and fires first, wounding Barbara. She rides off as Caroline stops Kit from firing again.

Late night The road by the Skelton estate
14

Barbara's confession, death, and the reunion

Back at the estate, Barbara is mortally wounded and confesses all to Kit, including the murders. Kit is horrified and leaves the estate, while Caroline and Skelton reconcile and vow to move on from the past. The story closes with the two couples choosing to live with the consequences of Barbara's crimes.

After the confrontation Skelton estate

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:01

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The Wicked Lady Summary

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The Wicked Lady Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Wicked Lady

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