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Woman of the Year (1942) movie poster

Timeline

Woman of the Year (1942) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1942 · 114 min · English
Directed by
George Stevens
Starring
Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Fay Bainter, Dan Tobin, Reginald Owen, William Bendix

A cynical sports writer and a sophisticated international journalist find themselves drawn to each other despite their differing perspectives. Their initial witty exchanges and playful debates about sports evolve into a surprising romance, culminating in marriage. However, their relationship faces challenges as they attempt to bridge the gap between their very different professional lives and personal worlds.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Woman of the Year
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Woman of the Year (1942)

Where can you watch Woman of the Year? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on YouTube TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Woman of the Year Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Woman of the Year (1942) 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. Charlie Moves to New York

    In 1971, flight attendant Charlie moves into a new apartment in New York City. While settling in, she notices Rodney, who is taking photographs across the street, and asks for his help with moving her furniture.

    When
    1971
    Where
    New York City
  2. Charlie's Assault and Murder

    After helping Charlie with her move, Rodney takes advantage of the unsuspecting flight attendant. He assaults her and ultimately kills her in her own apartment, marking the beginning of his violent crimes.

    When
    1971
    Where
    New York City
  3. Rodney's Crime in Wyoming

    In 1977, Rodney photographs a woman in Wyoming, gaining her trust by discussing her recent breakup. After luring her into a false sense of security, he strangles her to death after initially reviving her from unconsciousness.

    When
    1977
    Where
    Wyoming
  4. Sheryl's Audition in Los Angeles

    By 1978, Sheryl Bradshaw, a struggling actress from Pennsylvania, is trying to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her agent encourages her to participate in The Dating Game, suggesting it might lead to bigger opportunities.

    When
    1978
    Where
    Los Angeles
  5. Taping The Dating Game

    Sheryl reluctantly goes to tape The Dating Game, where she's confronted with three hidden bachelors. One of them turns out to be Rodney, who presents a charming facade that hides his sinister nature.

    When
    1978
    Where
    Los Angeles
  6. Laura's Suspicion

    During the taping, audience member Laura recognizes Rodney as the man associated with her friend Alison, who was recently found murdered. She attempts to alert the producers about her suspicions but is dismissed.

    When
    1978
    Where
    Los Angeles
  7. Rodney Wins the Date

    Despite feeling the questions are offensive, Sheryl goes off-script during the show and ends up connecting with Rodney more than the other contestants. He wins the date which includes a weekend trip to Carmel.

    When
    1978
    Where
    Los Angeles
  8. Uncomfortable Drinks with Rodney

    Following the taping, Sheryl and Rodney go for drinks where he tries to impress her with his knowledge of plays. The mood shifts when she playfully teases him, which makes Sheryl uncomfortable and suspicious of his intentions.

    When
    1978
    Where
    Los Angeles
  9. Sheryl's Narrow Escape

    As Sheryl leaves the bar, Rodney insists on walking her to her car. After she gives him a fake phone number and expresses her disinterest in the date, he threatens her, leading to a terrifying escape in the parking lot.

    When
    1978
    Where
    Los Angeles
  10. Laura's Failed Report

    The following day, Laura attempts to report her suspicions about Rodney to the police but is met with skepticism. Unable to provide concrete evidence, her concerns are dismissed, allowing Rodney to continue his criminal activities unimpeded.

    When
    1978
    Where
    Los Angeles
  11. Sheryl Leaves California

    After her unsettling experience on The Dating Game, Sheryl decides to leave California. She makes a phone call to thank her agent while looking forward to new opportunities outside of a city that has become too dangerous for her.

    When
    1978
    Where
    California
  12. Rodney Meets Amy

    In 1979, Rodney encounters Amy, a teenage runaway outside a motel. He offers her a modeling career, luring her into a dangerous situation despite her vulnerability as a runaway.

    When
    1979
    Where
    San Gabriel, California
  13. Amy's Abduction

    Rodney drives Amy to a remote area in the desert where he photographs her. He subsequently assaults and binds her, revealing the full extent of his violent proclivities before she manages to escape.

    When
    1979
    Where
    Desert, California
  14. Rodney's Arrest

    After Amy finds an opportunity to flee during a gas station stop, the police are alerted and arrest Rodney. This leads to his eventual trial where he is linked to multiple murders.

    When
    1979
    Where
    California
  15. Rodney's Legacy of Crime

    A postscript reveals that after being released on bail, Rodney went on to murder additional victims. He was ultimately convicted of at least seven murders, with estimates suggesting his total victims could be as high as 130.

Last updated: January 19, 2025 at 18:49

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Timeline questions answered

Woman of the Year Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Woman of the Year (1942): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Sheryl agree to appear on The Dating Game despite considering it frivolous?

Sheryl agreed to appear on The Dating Game because her agent encouraged her to participate, suggesting it could lead to bigger opportunities in her struggling acting career. Despite viewing the show as potentially shallow and lacking depth, she decided to put on a brave face and attend the taping, hoping it might advance her career in Los Angeles.

  • sheryl bradshaw
  • the dating game
  • acting career
  • los angeles
  • audition
Q2

How did Rodney Alcala manipulate and lure his victims?

Rodney Alcala used a consistent pattern of manipulation: he would approach women by offering modeling opportunities or by engaging them in conversation about their personal lives, such as discussing a recent breakup. He built false trust before isolating them in remote locations, where he would then commit his violent crimes.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Rodney is shown photographing women, establishing his predatory behavior.

  • rodney alcala
  • manipulation
  • modeling
  • predator
  • trust
  • luring victims
Q3

Why was Laura unable to prevent Rodney from going on the date with Sheryl?

Laura attempted to alert people about Rodney during the taping by revealing she recognized him from a disturbing incident involving her murdered friend Alison. However, her boyfriend dismissed her concerns, suggesting contestants were thoroughly vetted, and a producer misdirected her when she tried to raise the alarm, leaving her unable to stop the dangerous outcome.

  • laura
  • rodney alcala
  • alison
  • murder
  • dating game
  • suspicion
Q4

How did Sheryl escape Rodney's attack in the parking lot?

After giving Rodney a fake phone number and rejecting his date proposal, he became threatening in the parking lot. Sheryl narrowly escaped by running to safety as he chased her. Rodney backed off only when a crowd emerged, allowing her to flee unharmed despite the terrifying encounter.

  • sheryl bradshaw
  • escape
  • parking lot
  • threat
  • rodney alcala
Q5

How did Amy manage to escape from Rodney after being abducted?

After Rodney abducted and assaulted Amy in the desert, she demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness by feigning embarrassment to gain his trust temporarily. This strategic act allowed her to escape when they stopped at a gas station, alerting authorities which led to Rodney's eventual arrest.

  • amy
  • escape
  • abduction
  • desert
  • gas station
  • rodney alcala
Q6

What happened to Rodney Alcala after his arrest in 1979?

After his arrest in 1979, Rodney was released on bail while awaiting trial, during which he committed additional murders. He was ultimately convicted of at least seven murders, though estimates suggest his total victims could be as high as 130. He spent 31 years in prison before dying there, with his chance for acquittal thwarted only by the testimony of an early victim.

  • rodney alcala
  • arrest
  • trial
  • conviction
  • prison
  • 130 victims
Q7

Why was Sheryl targeted by Rodney on The Dating Game?

Rodney selected Sheryl as his dating game contestant because she was a struggling actress willing to go on the show, making her a vulnerable target. Her status as an aspiring actress in Los Angeles made her susceptible to his claims of modeling opportunities, similar to how he lured other victims.

  • rodney alcala
  • sheryl bradshaw
  • dating game
  • target
  • actress
  • vulnerable
Q8

What led to Charlie's murder in 1971?

Charlie, a flight attendant who had just moved to New York City, noticed Rodney photographing buildings across the street from her new apartment. She asked him for help moving furniture, unknowingly inviting a predator into her life. He later returned to her apartment where he assaulted and murdered her.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Rodney photographing, establishing his predatory surveillance behavior.

  • charlie
  • rodney alcala
  • murder
  • apartment
  • new york
  • flight attendant
Q9

How did Rodney's crime in Wyoming differ from his other attacks?

In Wyoming in 1977, Rodney stalked a woman on open plains and gained her trust by discussing her recent breakup. Unlike his typical pattern, he first strangled her to unconsciousness, then revived her briefly before killing her - a particularly disturbing method that showed his brutal methodology.

  • rodney alcala
  • wyoming
  • strangulation
  • murder
  • 1977
Q10

Why was Rodney Alcala released on bail before his trial?

The film reveals that Rodney was released on bail while awaiting trial, which allowed him to continue his criminal activities and murder additional victims. This failure in the justice system is highlighted as a critical moment that enabled further tragedies before his eventual conviction.

  • rodney alcala
  • bail
  • justice system
  • failure
  • trial
  • release

Movie threads

More Movies Like Woman of the Year, by Mood & Story

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

Chilling True Crime Investigations like Woman of the Year

Gripping accounts of real-life predators and the flawed justice systems that fail to stop them. If you were gripped by the real-life horror in Woman of the Year, explore more movies like it. This collection features similar true crime stories, focusing on serial killer investigations, survivor accounts, and justice system failures that create a tense and harrowing viewing experience.

  • true crime
  • disturbing
  • tense
  • gripping
  • ominous
  • harrowing
  • Tone: dark, tense, chilling
  • Pacing: fast, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow the pattern of a criminal investigation, interweaving perspectives from law enforcement, survivors, and the killer. The story is often non-linear, tracing a timeline of crimes and near-misses to build a comprehensive and terrifying picture of the subject. The journey is one of pursuit and revelation, often concluding with a bleak acknowledgment of the tragedy that occurred.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their foundation in documented true crime, their disturbing and dark tone, and their focus on the psychological terror inflicted by a predator. They share a high intensity, heavy emotional weight, and a gripping, fast-paced structure that maintains relentless tension.

High-Intensity Survival Thrillers like Woman of the Year

Stories of ordinary people facing relentless predators in a fight for survival. For viewers who found the survival narrative in Woman of the Year intensely gripping, this section collects similar thriller movies. These films focus on characters facing a direct, violent threat, creating a fast-paced, suspenseful, and disturbing journey of survival against a cunning antagonist.

  • survival
  • suspenseful
  • tense
  • harrowing
  • predator
  • violent
  • Tone: dark, suspenseful, harrowing
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern focuses on a protagonist's direct confrontation with a lethal adversary. The story builds from a state of normalcy into sudden, extreme danger, maintaining a fast pace as the victim uses their wits and resilience to endure. The conflict is raw and personal, emphasizing the physical and psychological toll of the struggle.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their central theme of survival against a violent predator. They share a high-intensity, fast-paced viewing experience dominated by tension and suspense. The emotional weight is heavy, and the tone is uniformly dark and disturbing, creating a consistently harrowing vibe.

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Movies Like Woman of the Year

Similar movies to Woman of the Year: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Woman of the Year (1942) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Woman of the Year 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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