The Chain

The Chain

Year: 1984

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: Jack Gold

DramaComedy

Your life in their vans. Comedy featuring interweaving stories of seven households caught up in a property chain on moving day, each one dependent on the other.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Chain 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 Chain (1984)

Trace every key event in The Chain (1984) 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

First removal in Willesden

Bamber leads the Lasts Removal and Storage team as they begin their round with a job in Willesden. The crew assesses the property, plans the moves, and loads the lorry for the chain’s opening link. This start sets the rhythm for the seven-household procession that follows.

Willesden
2

Des leaves Hackney to move in with his girlfriend

Des packs up and leaves his mother’s house in Hackney, where she has rented out his old room. He is moving in with his girlfriend, a change that unsettles those left behind. He waits outside the new home and is challenged by a policeman, foreshadowing the pressures of the chain.

Hackney
3

Keith heads to Willesden; a tense road conversation

Keith, representing Sloth, drives a self-drive van and is moving to Willesden for his first home purchase. He crosses paths with Des as Des moves into his old flat and warns him about the landlord. En route to pick up the keys at the estate agent, they argue about whether to have children, highlighting personal strains during the move.

Tufnell Park
4

Dudley and Alison seek a bigger flat

Dudley and Alison, with their young daughter, realize they need more space and recall memories of their daughter’s conception. Paul from Lasts visits the wrong flat, causing confusion with an old lady. Bamber moves them to Hammersmith, while their military-style granddad tries to keep the move on track.

Willesden
5

Granddad Envy moves into granny flat; squatters disrupt

Granddad, representing Envy, moves into the granny flat of the new property. Yet, squatters have entered his new home and changed the locks, derailing the move and heightening the tension around possession and control.

Hampstead
6

Mr Thorn's avarice disrupts the move

In Hammersmith, Mr Thorn embodies Avarice by insisting removal men cart away door-knobs, light bulbs, and ashes from fireplaces. His frugality clashes with the practicalities of the relocation as Bamber and crew continue the move toward 55 Christchurch Hill in Hampstead. Thorn even returns to his old house in search of elastic bands he forgot.

Hammersmith to Hampstead
7

Hampstead crisis: homelessness and a bogus con

Two problems strike the chain when a Hampstead resident refuses to leave, leaving the Thorns effectively homeless. To make matters worse, the family has already fallen victim to a bogus removal firm that has caused them to lose possessions. The sequence showcases how deceit compounds the relocation chaos.

Hampstead
8

Bamber secures Mrs Andreos’s Holland Park move

Bamber sits with widow Mrs Andreos in her kitchen, persuading her to move to Holland Park. He listens to stories about her late husband and Limassol, and negotiates a cash-in-hand arrangement. Mrs Andreos climbs into the removal van for a singalong of Karma Chameleon as the move begins.

Holland Park
9

Mrs Andreos as Gluttony; backstory of punishment

The film links Mrs Andreos to Gluttony, tying her appetite for more to the tragic memory of her husband, described as a 'glutton for punishment'. The narrative uses her arc to echo the moral underpinnings of the chain. Her personal history amplifies the meaning of the removal as a social crossing.

Holland Park
10

Pride moves from Holland Park to Knightsbridge

The Holland Park family, representing Pride, moves to Knightsbridge. They feel jealousy toward a neighbour headed for Belgrave Square in Belgravia, while Deidre purchases a new Daimler. The move is framed as Holland Park becoming 'too shabby' and catalyzing a more prestigious relocation.

Holland Park / Knightsbridge
11

Thomas in Knightsbridge; Wrath and the last room

In Knightsbridge, Thomas, representing Wrath, talks with a friend about auctioning his belongings at Sotheby's because he is dying. He pockets only a cheap Southend-on-Sea souvenir plate and arranges for his chauffeur to take him to Quilter Street in Whitechapel, the rented room from his past.

Knightsbridge; Quilter Street, Whitechapel
12

Final tableau: new homes and a wandering old woman

The film closes by showing each family safe in their new homes, while an old homeless woman wraps herself in newspaper, preparing for another night on the street. Her presence threads through the entire story, underscoring the cycle’s moral underpinnings and the human cost of the chain.

City streets

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:48

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of The Chain

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Chain 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 Chain is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Chain Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Chain, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Chain Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Chain

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Chain. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Chain

More About The Chain

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Chain: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Chain

Similar Movies to The Chain

Discover movies like The Chain 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.