Two Guys from Milwaukee

Two Guys from Milwaukee

Year: 1946

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: David Butler

Comedy

Balkan Prince Henry, longing to meet Bacall and see “real” America, befriends cab driver Buzz Williams. Unaware a microphone is live, they stage a debate on democracy versus monarchy broadcast, sparking a plebiscite that ends Henry’s rule. Flies to Milwaukee to sell, sits next to Bacall, but a tap forces him to give up seat—and dream—to Bogie.

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Timeline – Two Guys from Milwaukee (1946)

Trace every key event in Two Guys from Milwaukee (1946) 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

Prince arrives in NYC and meets Buzz

Balkan Prince Henry arrives in New York City with curiosity about how the average man lives and works. To keep his plan secret from his travel companions, he slips away and hails a taxi, where he meets Buzz Williams, a practical, streetwise driver. The encounter marks the beginning of his attempt to learn real life in the city.

Arrival day New York City
2

Henry fabricates a Milwaukee background

Henry fabricates a background story, claiming to be from Milwaukee, to fit his cover as a regular traveler. The taxi driver's own Milwaukee roots collide with Henry's lie, making the deception harder to sustain. Buzz then invites Henry into his Brooklyn home and begins teaching him about ordinary life.

Day 1 Brooklyn, New York
3

Henry meets Buzz's sister and niece

Inside Buzz's home, Henry is introduced to Nan Evans and her young daughter Peggy. The warm, everyday setting contrasts with the prince's royal pretensions and helps him see another side of life. The encounter also tightens the growing bond between Henry and Buzz.

Day 1 Buzz's Brooklyn home
4

Newspaper declares him kidnapped; disguise planned

The next day, a newspaper prints a sensational photo implying Henry has been kidnapped. To stay incognito, Buzz helps Henry disguise himself by taking him to Connie Read's barber shop and shaving off his mustache. The disguise underscores the blurred line between prince and ordinary man.

Day 2 Connie Read's barber shop, Brooklyn
5

Connie sparks romance; funds arranged

Connie begins showing Henry around the area, and the two quickly fall for each other. Henry arranges money from his aide Count Oswald to cover dinner and Buzz's costs and organizes a double date with Connie, Polly, and Oswald. The romance complicates his disguise and his plan to return home.

Day 2 Brooklyn, New York
6

Dinner with Connie

Henry and Connie share a dinner, marking the first real emotional connection between them. Buzz and Polly join later at the restaurant, with the Balkan funds from Oswald paying for the evening. The night deepens the tension between love, loyalty, and political pretend.

Evening Restaurant, Brooklyn
7

Movie outing and suspicion

After dinner, the group goes to a movie together. Henry pays for tickets with Balkan money supplied by Oswald. The theater manager becomes suspicious, prompting the FBI to descend toward the cinema. Tension mounts as the authorities close in on Henry.

Evening Movie theater, New York
8

Arrest at Connie's apartment

The FBI arrives and apprehends Henry at Connie's apartment. He is taken back to his hotel room, where Oswald waits, realizing the ruse cannot continue unchecked. The arrest marks a turning point in his experiment and raises stakes for everyone involved.

Night Connie's apartment; hotel
9

Peggy's plea and the radio plan

Peggy visits the hotel the next day to urge Henry to stay away from Connie so Buzz can reconcile with her. Henry instead invites the group to his hotel suite to hear a speech he plans to broadcast for his homeland. The moment becomes a public test of political influence.

Next day Hotel suite, New York
10

Broadcast practice reveals Buzz's eloquence

While Henry practices his radio speech, Buzz speaks with surprising candor and affection for the United States. The microphone is left on, and Buzz's passionate words are broadcast to an larger audience. The accidental broadcast gives Buzz instant credibility and reshapes the political drama.

During rehearsal Hotel suite, New York
11

Republic momentum changes Henry's fate

The broadcast inspires people to vote to replace the monarchy with a republic. Henry loses his title and privileges and is free to stay in the United States. He rushes to Connie's side to ask for her hand in marriage, unaware that Buzz has done the same.

After the broadcast Hotel suite, New York
12

Connie chooses Buzz; Henry heads home

Connie ultimately chooses to marry Buzz, the man she has known for years. A disappointed Henry decides to return to Milwaukee to take a job with a beer company. On the plane, he spots his favorite actress Lauren Bacall, but Humphrey Bogart sits next to her, ending his daydream with a touch of irony.

Plane departure On airplane

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:03

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Two Guys from Milwaukee

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