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Women in the Wind (1939) movie poster

Timeline

Women in the Wind (1939) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1939 · 63 mins · English
Directed by
John Farrow
Starring
Victor Jory, Maxie Rosenbloom, Eve Arden, John Ridgely, Frank Faylen, William Gargan

THESE ARE THE WOMEN NO MAN DARES LOVE! They search for thrills other women fear! A famous aviator helps an amateur enter a cross-country air race for women.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (13)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Women in the Wind
  5. 5 Every angle

13 events in order · contains spoilers

Women in the Wind Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Women in the Wind (1939) 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. Janet Steele seeks Ace Boreman's fast aircraft for the derby

    Janet uses every trick in the book to persuade Ace to lend her his very fast aircraft for the Los Angeles Derby. She views the opportunity as a chance to prove her piloting skill and win the prize. The move kicks off in Los Angeles as the race looms.

    When
    Pre-race
    Where
    Los Angeles
  2. Ace is reluctant but consents to lend the airplane

    Ace is initially reluctant to lend his plane, weighing the risks and his feelings. He agrees only after learning Janet needs funds to pay for her brother Bill's operation. This shifts the plan from reluctance to collaboration.

    When
    Pre-race
    Where
    Los Angeles, Ace's hangar
  3. Janet steals the craft to demonstrate her skill

    Defying gravity and caution, Janet steals the aircraft to showcase her piloting ability. The stunt marks her readiness to take on the derby with a high-performance machine. The bold move strains the trust between Janet and Ace.

    When
    Pre-race
    Where
    Los Angeles area
  4. Ace learns Janet is Bill Steele's sister

    Ace discovers that Janet is the sister of Bill Steele, a fellow pilot who is bedridden and in need of money for treatment. Understanding her motive softens his stance and aligns their interests. He decides to support her effort despite past reservations.

    When
    Pre-race
    Where
    Los Angeles
  5. Frieda reveals the legal status of their divorce and ownership

    Frieda, Ace's estranged wife, reveals their Mexican divorce isn't legal, leaving the airplane partly hers. She intends to chase the derby's prize herself and undermines Janet by painting Ace as unsupportive. The conflict heats up as sabotage schemes begin to form.

    When
    Pre-race
    Where
    Los Angeles
  6. Ace arranges for Denny Corson's aircraft for Janet

    To sidestep Janet's suspicions, Ace arranges for his friend Denny Corson to lend his home-built plane, making Janet unaware of Ace's involvement. The substitution gives Janet a capable aircraft for the race. The arrangement keeps Ace in the background while Janet prepares to race.

    When
    Pre-race
    Where
    Los Angeles / Denny Corson's workshop
  7. Janet leads the first leg to Wichita

    The race begins with Janet reaching the first stopover at Wichita ahead of Frieda. Frieda stays within striking distance, keeping the rivalry close. The early lead sets the tone for a tense contest through the midwest leg.

    When
    First leg
    Where
    Wichita
  8. Kit Campbell crashes; Doc's letter reveals a love triangle and plane ownership

    Kit Campbell's engine catches fire and she crashes, forcing a moment of concern. A letter from Doc arrives, revealing his love for Janet and claiming that Ace was involved in obtaining Denny's airplane. The revelation sows doubt and compounds the race's internal conflicts.

    When
    Stopover
    Where
    Wichita
  9. Frieda arranges sabotage via a race mechanic

    Frieda meets a race mechanic who agrees to sabotage Janet's plane for $2000, enabling her to gain an advantage. The mechanic uses a fuel-leak issue to force Janet down during the route. The sabotage escalates the danger the contestants face.

    When
    Mid-race
    Where
    Wichita vicinity / on route
  10. Janet lands on a farm and suffers gear damage

    Forced to land on a farm due to the fuel issue, Janet refuels and attempts a takeoff only to tear off a wheel of her landing gear without noticing. The damaged gear raises the peril of finishing the race. She presses on despite the setback.

    When
    Mid-race
    Where
    Farm, rural area
  11. Electrical storm disables Janet's radio

    An intense electrical storm strikes, disabling Janet's radio and cutting ground communication. She must rely on her instincts and flight skills to continue toward Cleveland. The storm heightens the isolation of the final leg.

    When
    Mid-flight
    Where
    Over the midwest, en route to Cleveland
  12. Frieda signals danger and forfeits to help Janet

    As rivals near Cleveland, Frieda hears a radio message and signals Janet about her danger, effectively forfeiting her own chance to win. The act shifts the balance in the race and saves Janet from disaster. The rivalry turns into an uneasy alliance of sorts.

    When
    Final leg
    Where
    Cleveland area
  13. Janet wins the Derby; legal divorce confirms Ace relationship

    Janet executes a safe landing and crosses the finish line first, securing the derby prize. Frieda hands Ace a telegram confirming the divorce is legal, sealing Janet's win and securing a new alliance with Ace. Janet thanks Frieda as the victory also ties her to Ace.

    When
    Finish / post-race
    Where
    Cleveland

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:35

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Timeline questions answered

Women in the Wind Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Women in the Wind (1939): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Janet need to win the air derby so desperately?

Janet needs the prize money to pay for an operation for her brother Bill Steele, a fellow pilot who lies bedridden after a crash. The $15,000 prize could save his life, making the race about more than just glory.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes establish Janet's urgency and her willingness to take risks, hinting at the personal stakes driving her determination.

  • janet steele
  • bill steele
  • prize money
  • operation
  • air derby motivation
Q2

Why does Ace initially refuse to lend Janet his aircraft?

Ace is initially reluctant to lend his fast aircraft to Janet because he views it as risky and wonders if she can handle such a high-performance plane. He only agrees after learning her brother Bill needs money for a life-saving operation, which shifts his perspective.

Foreshadowing: Ace's initial resistance sets up his character arc from skeptic to supporter.

  • ace boreman
  • aircraft
  • lend plane
  • refusal
Q4

Why does Janet steal Ace's plane instead of waiting for permission?

Janet steals the aircraft to prove she can handle it, forcing Ace to confront whether her skills justify lending her the plane. The bold move demonstrates her determination and piloting ability, ultimately convincing Ace to support her cause.

Foreshadowing: This reckless act occurs right after Ace expresses reluctance, directly challenging his judgment.

  • janet steele
  • steals plane
  • ace boreman
  • demonstrate skill
Q5

What does Doc's letter reveal during the Wichita stopover?

Doc's letter reveals two key things: he has romantic feelings for Janet, and Ace was secretly involved in arranging for Denny Corson to lend Janet his plane. This exposes Ace as a hidden benefactor and complicates Janet's trust in the men around her.

Foreshadowing: Doc is introduced early as a trusted confidant, making his love confession a surprising twist.

  • doc letter
  • wichita
  • love confession
  • ace involvement
  • denny corson plane
Q6

How does Frieda sabotage Janet's aircraft during the race?

Frieda pays a race mechanic $2,000 to tamper with Janet's plane, specifically creating a fuel leak. This forces Janet to make an emergency landing on a farm, where she damages her landing gear during takeoff while trying to continue.

Foreshadowing: Frieda's jealousy and competitive nature are established early when she tries to undermine Janet.

  • frieda
  • sabotage
  • fuel leak
  • mechanic
  • aircraft damage
Q7

What happens to Kit Campbell during the derby and why is it significant?

Kit Campbell, Ace's ally and fellow pilot, suffers an engine fire mid-race and crashes. She survives but is unable to continue the derby. Before the crash, she hands Janet a letter from Doc, which becomes a plot point that reveals hidden truths about the plane arrangement.

Foreshadowing: Kit's involvement as Ace's supporter establishes her as part of the inner circle.

  • kit campbell
  • crash
  • engine fire
  • doc letter
Q8

Why does Frieda give up her chance to win and help Janet instead?

Frieda notices from the ground that Janet is in danger, her landing gear is damaged and she's flying into a brutal electrical storm with no radio contact. Rather than let Janet crash, Frieda signals the danger to her, effectively forfeiting her own chance to win the race.

Foreshadowing: The rivalry between Janet and Frieda builds throughout the race, making this sacrifice surprising but earned.

  • frieda
  • forfeit
  • signal danger
  • electrical storm
  • landing gear
Q9

What resolves the divorce issue between Ace and Frieda?

After the race, Frieda hands Ace a telegram confirming their Mexican divorce was actually legal all along. This removes the legal obstacle that threatened Janet's use of the plane and clears the way for a potential romantic relationship between Janet and Ace.

Foreshadowing: The divorce question hangs over the entire story until this final revelation.

  • frieda
  • ace boreman
  • divorce
  • telegram
  • legal
  • resolution
Q10

Does Janet win the women's air derby?

Yes, Janet crosses the finish line in Cleveland as the winner of the women's air derby. Her victory secures the prize money for her brother's operation and ultimately opens the possibility of a romantic relationship with Ace, especially after the divorce issue is resolved.

Foreshadowing: The race structure builds toward this triumphant conclusion throughout the film.

  • janet steele
  • wins derby
  • cleveland
  • prize
  • finish line

Movie threads

More Movies Like Women in the Wind, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about competitive rivalry and redemption like Women in the Wind

Stories where fierce competitors clash, leading to unexpected acts of redemption. If you liked the rivalrous tension and redemptive arc in Women in the Wind, explore these movies featuring high-stakes competitions. These stories capture the urgency of a race or contest, complicated by fierce rivalries that eventually give way to acts of sacrifice and personal growth, leading to a hopeful conclusion.

  • rivalrous
  • tense
  • urgent
  • daring
  • hopeful
  • competitive
  • Tone: tense, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Movies in this thread follow a clear competitive structure, often a race or tournament, where a protagonist faces a formidable rival. The antagonist may use underhanded tactics, creating significant tension. The climax frequently involves a pivotal moment where the rival has a change of heart, leading to a redemptive act that allows the protagonist to succeed, resulting in a happy and morally affirming ending.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared narrative arc of competition-driven rivalry that evolves into redemption. They balance tense, urgent pacing with a hopeful tone, focusing on character transformation through the crucible of a high-stakes event.

Movies about determined female pioneers like Women in the Wind

Stories of ambitious women proving their mettle against societal and personal challenges. For viewers who enjoyed the theme of female empowerment in aviation in Women in the Wind, this collection highlights stories of women overcoming obstacles in challenging environments. These films share a fast-paced, hopeful vibe as their heroines demonstrate courage and skill to achieve their ambitions against the odds.

  • determined
  • daring
  • hopeful
  • urgent
  • empowering
  • tense
  • Tone: hopeful, determined
  • Pacing: fast, driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on a female protagonist with a specialized skill or ambition, often in a technical, physical, or leadership-oriented domain. She must overcome a combination of societal prejudice, a personal crisis, and a high-pressure situation to prove her worth. The story arc is one of empowerment, culminating in a public victory or achievement that validates her capabilities and shifts perceptions.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their focus on female empowerment through action and achievement. They share a determined, hopeful mood, medium emotional weight, and a fast-paced structure built around mastering a challenge and succeeding against expectations.

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Movies Like Women in the Wind

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Every angle

Women in the Wind (1939) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Women in the Wind 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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