Whiplash

Whiplash

Year: 1948

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Lewis Seiler

Drama

Sure I know you’re a two timer! An artist follows a woman from California to New York, where he boxes for her mobster husband.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Whiplash 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 & Setting – Whiplash (1948)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Whiplash (1948). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1925

The events unfold during the Jazz Age, centered on a 1925 New York scene of boxing, nightlife, and creative ambitions. The MSG bout anchors a world of risk, opportunity, and crime that defines the era's spectacle. The story travels from urban dens of vice to a seaside California ending, signaling both a date and a mood of change.

Location

New York City, Madison Square Garden, Greenwich Village, Pelican Club, Sam's Cafe, California beach

The story unfolds across iconic urban sites in New York City, from the boxing ring of Madison Square Garden to the glamour of Sam's Cafe and the Pelican Club. Greenwich Village studios provide an artist's backdrop that ties Mike's painting world to the rougher edges of show business. The finale shifts to the California coast, where Mike returns to painting as the mob’s tumult fades into memory.

🏙️ City Setting 🎭 Nightlife 🗽 Cultural Hub

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:58

Main Characters – Whiplash (1948)

Meet the key characters of Whiplash (1948), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Michael Gordon, aka Mike Angelo

A happy-go-lucky California painter who is drawn into Rex Durant’s boxing syndicate and Laurie's orbit. He grows into a determined fighter who fights not only for glory, but to win back his autonomy from manipulation.

🎨 Artist 🥊 Fighter 💪 Determined

Laurie Durant

A talented performer entangled in a dangerous marriage with Rex Durant and complicated by her secret romance with Mike. Her loyalty is tested as deceit and pressure from Durant pull her between love and self-preservation.

💔 Love & Betrayal 🎭 Dual Loyalties

Rex Durant

A crippled ex-boxer turned club owner who exerts coercive control over lives and careers around him. He schemes to keep Laurie near him while keeping Mike in line through intimidation and manipulation.

🗝️ Control 💼 Power 🥊 Manipulation

Dr. Arnold Vincent

Laurie’s brother and a doctor who suspects and exposes Durant’s manipulation. He plots to kill Durant to free Laurie, but his plan spirals into a dangerous conspiracy that ends with violence.

🩺 Science & Guilt 🗡️ Revenge

Sam

Cafe owner who funds Mike’s journey to New York and acts as a wary mentor figure behind the scenes. He represents the practical, steady support that keeps ambition alive.

🤝 Friend 💸 Patronage

Costello

A thug who serves Durant and carries out violence to enforce the club’s and the boss’s will. He directly confers physical danger to Mike and participates in the brutal escalation.

⚔️ Violence 🗡️ Goon

Christine (Chris Sherwood)

Mike’s neighbor who invites him to Pelican Club; a conduit of social ties in the city’s nightlife, she remains a presence in the events surrounding Laurie and the club.

🤝 Friend 🕊️ Social Connector

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:58

Major Themes – Whiplash (1948)

Explore the central themes of Whiplash (1948), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Power & Control

Rex Durant wields influence through money, status, and fear, using Laurie's marriage and Mike's ambition to mold events to his will. The club's glamor serves as a stage for manipulation, where violence and wealth govern outcomes. Dr. Vincent’s guilt adds a moral layer to the coercive dynamic, escalating the conflict. Mike’s resistance becomes a test of autonomy against a calculated power structure.

❤️ Love & Deception

Laurie’s affections collide with a web of lies—her marriage to Durant and the painting’s origin seed a complicated romance. Mike pursues truth and trust behind the deceptions that keep him tethered to a dangerous relationship. The couple’s choices reveal how desire can entangle people in others’ schemes. The resolution hinges on choosing love over control and escape from manipulation.

⚖️ Liberation & Consequences

Vincent’s plot to liberate Laurie through killing Durant shows that liberation comes at a cost, including violence and moral compromise. Mike’s fight becomes a stand for personal agency rather than glory, a test of whether he can free himself from others’ designs. The ending suggests a fragile peace as Mike returns to painting, choosing a quieter life after the storm.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:58

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 Whiplash

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

Whiplash Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Whiplash, 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.

Whiplash Summary

Whiplash Timeline

Track the full timeline of Whiplash with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Whiplash Timeline

More About Whiplash

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Whiplash: 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 Whiplash

Similar Movies to Whiplash

Discover movies like Whiplash 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.