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Touch and Go (1955) movie poster

Timeline

Touch and Go (1955) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1955 · 85 mins · English
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Directed by
Michael Truman
Starring
Jack Hawkins, John Fraser, James Hayter, Margaret Johnston, Roland Culver, Liz Fraser

After his firm dismisses Jim Fletcher’s latest furniture designs as inconsistent with its brand, he threatens to resign and decides to uproot his family for a fresh start in Australia. However, once they arrive, the move brings a host of unforeseen difficulties that test his career ambitions and family bonds.

Comedy Romance Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Touch and Go
  6. 6 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Touch and Go Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Touch and Go (1955) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Quits job after argument with superior

    Jim quits his job in a fit of pique after an argument with a work superior. He leaves the furniture design firm in a burst of anger and resolve, signaling a break with his current life. The decision hints that England no longer offers him hope, and he begins to plan a new future abroad.

    When
    immediately after the argument
    Where
    workplace (England)

  2. Decides emigration to Australia is the future

    With the decision made, Jim concludes that Australia is the future for his family. He starts considering emigration as a solution to his dissatisfaction. He begins laying the groundwork at home, even as his wife and children remain hesitant.

    When
    immediately after quitting
    Where
    home

  3. Begins planning emigration

    Jim eagerly begins making concrete emigration plans, gathering information on visas, housing, and finances. He presses ahead despite reservations from his family, determined to move forward quickly. The plan shifts from a dream to a set of actionable steps.

    When
    shortly after decision
    Where
    home planning area

  4. Family opposition and in-law resistance

    His wife and children resist the move, uncertain about uprooting their lives. Jim's in-laws also oppose emigrating, adding pressure and friction to the plan. The project faces emotional hurdles as relatives question whether Australia is the right choice.

    When
    early planning phase
    Where
    family home

  5. Bureaucratic snags threaten the plan

    Practical hurdles appear as paperwork, visas, and logistics slow progress. The Fletchers scramble to overcome these obstacles to keep the departure on track. The delays force them to adjust timelines and expectations.

    When
    mid planning phase
    Where
    home and planning offices

  6. Jim misses his old job

    Jim discovers he misses the routine and purpose of his former job. The longing for professional identity fuels renewed doubts about emigrating. The pull of past work weighs against the promise of a new life overseas.

    When
    during planning
    Where
    former workplace

  7. Doubts and reassessment

    Growing doubts lead Jim to reassess the move. He weighs risks to family stability against potential opportunities abroad. The couple debates priorities and considers what the move would mean for their children.

    When
    during planning
    Where
    home

  8. Snags resolved; departure date set

    Snags are sorted out and a firm departure date is set. The family commits to the timeline, even as nerves run high. The plan finally gains a concrete schedule.

    When
    after snags are resolved
    Where
    home

  9. Daughter meets her love two days before departure

    Two days before departure, the daughter meets a young man she instantly loves after he rescues the family cat Heathcliff. The sudden romance injects uncertainty into the plan. The family must decide how this new love affects their emigration decision.

    When
    two days before departure
    Where
    home

  10. Heathcliff missing triggers delay

    The family cat Heathcliff goes missing, triggering a delay in departure. The cat drama becomes a catalyst for heart-searching as they weigh love, roots, and opportunity abroad. They re-evaluate whether to delay or cancel the move.

    When
    during the delay caused by missing Heathcliff
    Where
    home

  11. Family debates stay or leave

    The family discusses staying for the daughter's romance or pressing ahead with emigration. They weigh happiness, roots, and future plans, facing emotional tension as the decision looms. The outcome remains uncertain as they consider all options.

    When
    during delay
    Where
    home

  12. Final decision on emigration

    After weighing the daughter's situation and the delay, they make a choice about whether to proceed with emigration. The film ends with their chosen direction and a sense of what lies ahead, even if the future remains open to change.

    When
    after delay
    Where
    home

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 13:36

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Timeline questions answered

Touch and Go Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Touch and Go (1955): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Jim Fletcher quit his job?

Jim quits his job after a heated argument with his work superior who dismissed his latest furniture designs as inconsistent with the company's brand. In a fit of pique, he storms out convinced that England offers limited prospects for his career, and he becomes determined to seek a fresh start abroad.

Foreshadowing: The argument at work plant the seed for his impulsive decision to abandon his current life.

  • jim quits job
  • argument with superior
  • furniture designer
  • england prospects
Q2

Why does Jim choose Australia for emigration?

Jim views Australia as the solution to his dissatisfaction with England and its limited opportunities. After quitting his job in anger, he decides that a new life on the other side of the world represents a brighter future for his family, though the choice also stems from his frustration with his stagnant career.

  • australia emigration
  • move abroad
  • jim's decision
  • bright future
Q3

Why does the family resist the move to Australia?

Helen and the children react with mixed enthusiasm, uncertain about uprooting their established lives. Jim's in-laws also actively oppose the emigration, adding significant pressure and friction to the planning process as relatives question whether Australia is truly the right choice.

  • family opposition
  • in-laws resistance
  • helen doubts
  • children reaction
Q4

What causes the delays in their departure?

Practical and bureaucratic hurdles continually threaten to derail the emigration plan. Paperwork, visa issues, and logistics create obstacles that slow progress and force the family to adjust timelines and expectations repeatedly.

  • visa issues
  • paperwork delays
  • bureaucracy
  • departure obstacles
Q5

Does Jim miss his old job while planning the move?

Yes, during the planning phase Jim discovers he misses the routine and purpose of his former job at the furniture design firm. This longing for his professional identity fuels renewed doubts about whether emigrating is the right decision.

  • job nostalgia
  • jim doubts
  • regret
  • professional identity
Q6

What happens two days before departure?

Two days before they are due to leave, their daughter Peggy meets a young man who rescues the family cat Heathcliff from a tree. She instantly falls in love with him, and this sudden romance injects powerful uncertainty into the family's emigration plans.

Foreshadowing: The daughter's chance encounter completely shifts the family's priorities.

  • peggy meets man
  • heathcliff rescue
  • instant love
  • romance subplot
Q7

Why does the missing cat cause a delay?

When the family cat Heathcliff goes missing, it triggers a delay in their departure. This incident becomes a catalyst for heart-searching, forcing the family to weigh their dreams of a new life abroad against the ties that might keep them rooted at home.

  • heathcliff missing
  • cat delay
  • family reconsidering
  • emigration doubts
Q8

Does the family go to Australia or stay in England?

The family must decide whether to proceed with emigration or pause to consider what such a change would mean, especially with the daughter's new romance and the delay caused by the missing cat. They ultimately make a choice about their future together.

  • final decision
  • stay or leave
  • family choice
  • australia or england
Q9

What is the ending of the film like?

The film ends with a hopeful tone. While there is significant doubt and frustration throughout, the central conflict revolves around pursuing a better future. The family ultimately decides their fate together, and the ending resolves positively with a sense of what lies ahead.

  • hopeful ending
  • family resolution
  • positive outcome
  • future together

Movie threads

More Movies Like Touch and Go, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Touch and Go tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Hopeful family reset movies like Touch and Go

Stories where families gamble on a fresh start, testing their bonds. Looking for more movies like Touch and Go? This list features heartfelt family dramas where a major relocation or life change tests bonds and brings new beginnings. If you enjoyed the mix of domestic conflict and hopeful resolution, you'll find similar stories here.

  • family conflict
  • relocation
  • fresh start
  • heartfelt
  • doubtful
  • domestic
  • Tone: hopeful, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a family unit as they make an impetuous decision to uproot their lives. The plot unfolds through the practical and emotional hurdles they face, causing internal conflict and testing their relationships. The story is driven by the characters learning to adapt and grow together, culminating in a reaffirmation of their family bond.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core theme of a family 'reset,' balancing the frustration of the transition with a fundamentally hopeful outlook. They offer a steady, character-driven pace and a medium emotional weight, making the struggles relatable without being overwhelmingly heavy.

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Where the Heart Is

1990
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Where the Heart Is

2000
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Hope Springs Eternal

2018
Americanish movie poster

Americanish

2021
Family movie poster

Family

2019
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Seekers of Happiness

1936
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Happiness for Beginners

2023

Midlife crisis journey movies similar to Touch and Go

Character-driven tales of starting over when life feels stagnant. Discover films similar to Touch and Go that explore a midlife career change and its impact. These character-driven stories focus on the protagonist's quest for fulfillment, the resulting family dynamics, and a blend of romantic and dramatic elements with a steady pacing.

  • midlife crisis
  • career change
  • self-discovery
  • frustrated
  • doubtful
  • romantic
  • Tone: dramatic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a central character who feels unfulfilled and makes a bold, sometimes reckless, decision to change their career or location. This creates a ripple effect, testing their closest relationships. The story explores their internal doubt and external struggles, often incorporating a romantic subplot as a source of new possibility, leading to personal growth and a re-evaluation of success.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on a midlife protagonist's pivotal decision. They blend drama and romance against a backdrop of career ambition and domestic life, maintaining a steady pace and a medium intensity that keeps the story grounded and relatable.

I Got Life! movie poster

I Got Life!

2017
Hello I Must Be Going movie poster

Hello I Must Be Going

2012
Middle Class Melodies movie poster

Middle Class Melodies

2020
Middle Class Melodies movie poster

Middle Class Melodies

2020
From the Terrace movie poster

From the Terrace

1960
Crossroads movie poster

Crossroads

2002
Second Act movie poster

Second Act

2023
Changes movie poster

Changes

1991

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Every angle

Touch and Go (1955) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Touch and Go in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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