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Woman Against Woman (1938) movie poster

Timeline

Woman Against Woman (1938) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1938 · 61 mins · English
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Directed by
Robert B. Sinclair
Starring
Joseph Crehan, Janet Beecher, Morgan Wallace, Marjorie Rambeau, Mary Astor, Herbert Marshall

What would you do? A newlywed unhappily discovers that her husband’s scheming ex-wife still has a controlling influence in his life and home.

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 Woman Against Woman
  6. 6 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Woman Against Woman Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Woman Against Woman (1938) 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. Stephen decides to divorce Cynthia

    Unhappy in his marriage, attorney Stephen Holland resolves to divorce his pretentious wife Cynthia. He worries about how the split will affect their young daughter Ellen. The decision triggers Cynthia's retaliatory schemes.

  2. Cynthia manipulates Stephen's mother

    Cynthia deceives Mrs. Holland into siding with her, suggesting that Ellen should stay with Cynthia to ease the custody process. The rift within Stephen's family deepens as mistrust grows. The stage is set for further manipulation.

    When
    early in the process
    Where
    Mrs. Holland's home
  3. Stephen travels to Washington, D.C.

    Stephen must leave on a work trip to Washington, D.C., aligning with the divorce proceedings. He reluctantly agrees to the arrangement, hoping the distance will reduce conflict. Cynthia gains space to maneuver in his absence.

    Where
    Washington, D.C.
  4. Reception leads to a new romance

    At a reception for Senator Kingsley, Stephen meets Maris Kent and is immediately smitten. The spark signals a potential new life beyond the failing marriage. The encounter accelerates a forthcoming marriage.

    When
    at a reception
    Where
    Washington, D.C.
  5. Stephen marries Maris Kent

    Stephen and Maris wed soon after their meeting and move back to Stephen's hometown. The hurried marriage marks a fresh start, even as Cynthia's scheming looms in the background. The new couple is unaware of the trap about to be sprung.

    Where
    Stephen's hometown
  6. Cynthia sabotages Maris socially

    Cynthia tries to undermine Maris by ensuring she is snubbed at the local country club. The social exclusion is aimed at isolating the couple and driving Stephen away. The vendetta illustrates Cynthia's vindictive nature.

    Where
    local country club
  7. Cynthia's inn plan begins

    Away with her daughter Ellen at a remote inn, Cynthia pretends Ellen is seriously ill to spur Stephen into joining and potentially abandoning Maris. The ruse tests the new family's stability. Cynthia's manipulation intensifies as the plan unfolds.

    Where
    remote inn
  8. The inn confrontation draws near

    Stephen, Maris, and Stephen's mother travel to the inn to confront the ruse and protect Ellen. The atmosphere is tense as they prepare to confront the deception and the person behind it. The stakes are high as the truth looms.

    Where
    remote inn
  9. The truth emerges at the inn

    Upon arrival, they discover Cynthia dancing while Ellen is perfectly fine. The deception is laid bare, exposing Cynthia's true character to all present. The moment shifts the story from manipulation to reckoning.

    When
    climax of the inn visit
    Where
    remote inn
  10. Cynthia's deception is exposed

    Cynthia's selfish scheme is revealed to Stephen, Maris, and Mrs. Holland. The exposure erodes any remaining control she had over the situation. The family begins to reckon with the fallout of her actions.

    Where
    inn
  11. Fallout for the marriage

    The revelation forces the couple to reassess their relationship and the future of Ellen. Stephen's and Maris's bonds are tested as they navigate the consequences of Cynthia's treachery. The film hints at possible healing, but the path ahead remains uncertain.

    Where
    inn
  12. Ending and aftermath

    The summary ends with the truth out in the open and the characters left to deal with the consequences. It emphasizes the cost of deceit in marriage and the importance of Ellen's welfare. The finale leaves the audience contemplating the future of this family.

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 09:26

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Timeline questions answered

Woman Against Woman Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Woman Against Woman (1938): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Cynthia fake Ellen's illness at the inn?

Cynthia takes Ellen to a remote inn and pretends her daughter is seriously ill to force Stephen to come to her. She hopes this ruse will make Stephen abandon his new wife Maris and return to her. The plan is designed to use Ellen as leverage to break up Stephen's new marriage.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Cynthia manipulated Stephen's mother by suggesting Ellen would be safer with her, showing she was willing to use her daughter as a pawn.

  • cynthia
  • ellen
  • illness
  • inn
  • manipulation
  • custody
Q2

How does Stephen meet Maris Kent?

Stephen meets Maris at a formal reception for his longtime ally Senator Kingsley in Washington, D.C. while he is there on a work trip. The two are instantly attracted to each other and their courtship quickly leads to marriage.

Foreshadowing: The meeting occurs during Stephen's work trip to Washington, D.C., which happens after he decides to pursue a divorce from Cynthia.

  • stephen
  • maris
  • washington
  • senator
  • reception
  • romance
Q3

Why does Cynthia try to isolate Maris at the country club?

After Stephen and Maris return to Stephen's hometown, Cynthia orchestrates social snubs against Maris at the local country club. Her goal is to drive a wedge between the new couple by cutting Maris off from social connections, making the new wife's life difficult and potentially forcing Stephen to leave her.

Foreshadowing: Cynthia's pattern of retaliation began earlier when she schemed to make Stephen's life difficult after the divorce was announced.

  • cynthia
  • maris
  • country club
  • social
  • isolation
  • sabotage
Q4

What causes Stephen to pursue a divorce from Cynthia?

Stephen grows tired of the pretensions and strain in his marriage to Cynthia. As an attorney, he decides to pursue a divorce because he is unhappy at home, though he remains deeply concerned about how the separation will affect their young daughter Ellen.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Stephen's unhappiness setting in motion the chain of events that follow.

  • stephen
  • cynthia
  • divorce
  • marriage
  • ellen
  • unhappiness
Q5

Why does Stephen's mother side with Cynthia?

Mrs. Holland is swayed by Cynthia's manipulation. Cynthia suggests that Ellen would be safer and happier under Cynthia's custody for the time being, playing on the elderly woman's concern for her granddaughter. This calculated move creates a rift in Stephen's family and complicates the divorce proceedings.

Foreshadowing: Cynthia's skill at manipulation is established early when she deceives Mrs. Holland into believing she has Ellen's best interests at heart.

  • mrs holland
  • cynthia
  • ellen
  • custody
  • manipulation
  • family
Q6

How is Cynthia's deception exposed at the inn?

When Stephen, Maris, and his mother arrive at the remote inn expecting to find a sick Ellen, they discover Cynthia dancing carefree while Ellen appears perfectly healthy. The illusion collapses instantly, exposing Cynthia's lie and revealing her true manipulative character to everyone present.

Foreshadowing: The buildup to this moment shows the trio traveling with mounting tension, uncertain of what they will find.

  • cynthia
  • inn
  • deception
  • ellen
  • truth
  • confrontation
Q7

What happens to Ellen after Cynthia's deception is revealed?

After Cynthia's scheme is exposed, the family must reckon with the fallout and reassess Ellen's welfare. The truth about Cynthia's character being out in the open changes the custody situation, though the specific outcome for Ellen remains somewhat uncertain as the film focuses on the emotional resolution.

Foreshadowing: Ellen's wellbeing has been central to every character's decisions throughout the film, making this resolution crucial.

  • ellen
  • cynthia
  • custody
  • family
  • resolution
  • aftermath
Q8

Why is Cynthia so determined to ruin Stephen's new marriage?

Cynthia refuses to accept the divorce gracefully and instead schemes relentlessly to make Stephen's life difficult. Her vindictiveness stems from not being willing to concede easily and from a desire to maintain control, even after Stephen has moved on. She weaponizes their daughter and uses social manipulation to pursue her vendetta.

Foreshadowing: The summary establishes early that Cynthia is not willing to concede the divorce and will fight dirty.

  • cynthia
  • divorce
  • revenge
  • manipulation
  • vindictive
  • scheming

Movie threads

More Movies Like Woman Against Woman, by Mood & Story

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

Domestic manipulation thrillers like Woman Against Woman

Stories where home life becomes a battleground of psychological control. If you enjoyed the tense, controlling dynamic in Woman Against Woman, explore more movies about psychological manipulation within relationships and families. These films feature characters using emotional tactics to control those around them, creating a similar sense of domestic unease.

  • tense
  • manipulative
  • deceptive
  • psychological
  • controlling
  • domestic
  • Tone: tense, anxious, deceptive
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a protagonist who becomes the target of a manipulative figure, often an ex-partner or family member. The conflict escalates through a series of calculated schemes designed to isolate the protagonist and undermine their sense of reality, culminating in a confrontation where the manipulator's true nature is exposed.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on non-physical, psychological conflict within domestic settings. They prioritize a tense atmosphere, a steady pacing that allows manipulation to unfold, and a cathartic resolution where the deceptive antagonist is ultimately defeated.

Cathartic melodramas with tense resolutions like Woman Against Woman

Emotional stories where sustained tension leads to a satisfying, happy conclusion. Fans of the satisfying conclusion in Woman Against Woman will appreciate these movies that build serious emotional tension but ultimately provide a happy, justice-serving ending. Find similar stories where good triumphs over manipulation after a stressful emotional journey.

  • melodramatic
  • tense
  • cathartic
  • anxious
  • resentful
  • emotional
  • Tone: tense, melodramatic, cathartic
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist enduring a prolonged, tense situation caused by an antagonist. The story builds methodically, increasing the emotional stakes and audience anxiety, until a pivotal moment of revelation or confrontation resolves the conflict decisively in the protagonist's favor, providing a strong sense of release and justice.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared emotional arc: they deliver a medium-intensity, tense experience that is ultimately resolved with a happy, morally satisfying ending. They balance serious themes with a reassuring conclusion, making the emotional investment worthwhile.

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Every angle

Woman Against Woman (1938) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Woman Against Woman 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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