Primrose Path (1940): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
Primrose Path is a 1940 romantic drama directed by Gregory La Cava, starring Ginger Rogers as Ellie May Adams, Miles Mander and Marjorie Rambeau. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Director
- Gregory La Cava
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- RKO Radio Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Primrose Path About?
The premise of Primrose Path without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Ellie Mae, raised on Primrose Hill alongside her carefree mother, drunken father, younger sister and a harsh, mean‑spirited grandmother, lives in a disreputable part of town. She falls for a diligent man, they marry, and she hides her troubled past. When he uncovers the truth, their marriage is put in jeopardy.
Primrose Path Themes & Keywords
· 29 tags- alcoholic man
- gas station
- motorcycle with side car
- clamming
- attempted robbery
- man's wallet
- mother daughter relationship
- father daughter relationship
- husband wife relationship
- diner
- sailboat
- meeting in laws
+17 more Show fewer
- husband wife estrangement
- undeserved reputation
- double date
- confrontation
- husband wife reunion
- prostitute mother
- nightclub
- honeymoon
- woman shot to death
- san francisco california
- marriage
- accidental shooting
- poverty
- prostitution
- suicide attempt
- based on novel
- based on play
Where to Watch Primrose Path
Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Primrose Path Cast & Characters
Ginger Rogers leads the cast as Ellie May Adams, with Miles Mander as Homer and Marjorie Rambeau as Mamie Adams. Directed by Gregory La Cava; 33 actors are credited in all.
- Director Gregory La Cava
-
Ginger Rogers as Ellie May Adams - Miles Mander as Homer
- Marjorie Rambeau as Mamie Adams
- Queenie Vassar as Grandma
Also Starring in Primrose Path
· 29 more- Henry Travers Gramp
- Joel McCrea Ed Wallace
- Vivienne Osborne Thelma
- Charles Lane Mr. Smith (uncredited)
- Frank Mills Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Donald Kerr Sailor in Bluebell (uncredited)
- Edgar Dearing Motorcycle Policeman (uncredited)
- Charlie Hall Man in Diner (uncredited)
- Nestor Paiva Bluebell Manager (uncredited)
- Ernie Adams Man in Bluebell (uncredited)
- Louise Beavers Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
- Matt Mchugh Drunk Leaving Bluebell (uncredited)
- Jack Gargan Al (uncredited)
- Robert Emmett Keane Gossip in Diner (uncredited)
- Bobby Barber Benny (uncredited)
- Jack Gardner Jake's Friend in Diner
Show all 33 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Grace Hayle Drunk's Wife Leaving Bluebell (uncredited)
- Bob Perry Bluebell Bartender (uncredited)
- Charles Williams
- Gene Morgan Gene (uncredited)
- Lorin Raker Man in Diner (uncredited)
- Larry McGrath Jake Halpern (uncredited)
- Ray Cooke Man Clueing in Ed (uncredited)
- Jacqueline Dalya Dalya (uncredited)
- Herbert Corthell Herb (uncredited)
- Joan Carroll Honeybell
- Carmen Morales Carmelita
- Mara Alexander Girl in Bluebell (uncredited)
- Lawrence Gleason Jr. Boy (uncredited)
Primrose Path Plot Summary
What happens in Primrose Path from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Tomboy Ellie May Adams [Ginger Rogers] keeps her virtue despite the difficult circumstances of her family. Her alcoholic, Greek scholar father Homer [Miles Mander] is repeatedly unable to hold a job, leaving her mother Mamie Adams [Marjorie Rambeau] to support the family through prostitution. Ellie May’s retired-prostitute grandmother [Queenie Vassar] accepts their life as normal, and the weight of those choices hangs over Ellie May as she makes her way in a harsh world.
Full summary
The whole story of Primrose Path, scene by scene
Primrose Path Videos
The clip of Primrose Path.
Seen Primrose Path?
Movies Like Primrose Path
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Primrose Path, Bright Leaf and From the Terrace.
Primrose Path FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of Primrose Path, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Primrose Path?
Primrose Path runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was Primrose Path released?
Primrose Path was released on March 22, 1940.
Who directed Primrose Path?
Primrose Path was directed by Gregory La Cava.
More films by Gregory La Cava Who is in the cast of Primrose Path?
Primrose Path stars Ginger Rogers as Ellie May Adams, Miles Mander as Homer and Marjorie Rambeau as Mamie Adams, among 33 credited actors.
Where can I watch Primrose Path?
In the US, Primrose Path is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
Does Primrose Path have a post-credit scene?
No. Primrose Path has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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