When The Bough Breaks

When The Bough Breaks

Year: 1947

Runtime: 78 mins

Language: English

Director: Lawrence Huntington

Drama

The bewildered wife of a bigamist allows her child to be adopted and then regrets it.

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Timeline & Setting – When The Bough Breaks (1947)

Explore the full timeline and setting of When The Bough Breaks (1947). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:10

Main Characters – When The Bough Breaks (1947)

Meet the key characters of When The Bough Breaks (1947), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lily Bates (Patricia Roc)

Lily is a devoted mother who balances a demanding job as a shopgirl with caring for her newborn. She initially refuses to sign away Jimmy’s future through a formal adoption, instead seeking to raise him under her own name. Her determination and evolving circumstances drive the story as she navigates love, duty, and practical choices.

💼 Working-class 👩‍👧 Mother 💖 Protective

Jimmy (Cavan Malone)

Jimmy is the infant at the center of the dispute who grows up within the Norman home but is legally Lily’s son. He experiences two families and forms a sense of belonging with both, until the custody decision tests which home will truly be his. His loyalties and comfort with the Normans influence the emotional stakes of the story.

🍼 Baby 💖 Loved 🧭 Loyal

Frances Norman (Rosamund John)

Frances is a middle-class wife who bonds with Jimmy at the day nursery after losing her own child. She and her husband provide a warm, comfortable home and care for Jimmy, shaping his early upbringing. Her empathy fuels the legal and emotional conflict over Jimmy’s future while subtly challenging Lily’s position.

🏠 Middle-class 👩‍👧 Caregiver 💞 Nurturer

Robert Norman (Patrick Holt)

Robert Norman is Frances’s husband, a steady, supportive figure who welcomes Jimmy into a conventional household. He embodies the Norman family’s stability and care as the child’s guardian during his early years. He provides a counterpoint to Lily’s independent approach in the custody dispute.

🏡 Husband 💬 Supportive 🧭 Stable

Bill Collins (Bill Owen)

Bill is a kind shopkeeper who marries Lily and accepts Jimmy as his own son. He offers emotional steadiness and practical support, recognizing the challenges Jimmy faces adjusting to a new family. His love for Lily and Jimmy underscores the film’s theme of chosen family.

💼 Partner ❤️ Husband 👨‍👦 Father-figure

Judge (Noel Howlett)

The judge presides over the custody case, representing the legal framework that weighs parental rights and the child's best interests. He embodies the formal, procedural side of family law and the tension between law and personal attachment in choosing a family.

⚖️ Judge 🏛️ Legal authority 🧭 Formal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:10

Major Themes – When The Bough Breaks (1947)

Explore the central themes of When The Bough Breaks (1947), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👪 Family

The story centers on what makes a family: blood ties, caregiving bonds, and chosen relationships. Lily’s decision to let the Norman couple care for Jimmy and later the custody fight test who truly acts as Jimmy’s parent. The narrative explores love, responsibility, and what counts as a family beyond legal adoption.

💪 Independence

Lily pursues work, rises to a department-store manager, and forges a life with Bill while juggling motherhood. Her choices reflect a spirit of independence in balancing career and family. The film presents independence as both a personal victory and a source of conflict with those who doubt her ability to raise Jimmy.

💼 Class

The contrast between Lily’s working-class life and the Norman family’s comfortable home frames the custody dispute. Economic resources and social status influence perceptions of what is best for Jimmy. The court case and domestic scenes critique mid-century attitudes toward class and family structure.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:10

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When The Bough Breaks Summary

Read a complete plot summary of When The Bough Breaks, 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.

When The Bough Breaks Summary

When The Bough Breaks Timeline

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When The Bough Breaks Timeline

More About When The Bough Breaks

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More About When The Bough Breaks

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