What Is As Time Goes By About?
The premise of As Time Goes By in 290 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the neon‑lit streets of 1930s New York, the city hums with the forbidden rhythm of speakeasies and the restless ambition of those who thrive in its shadows. Rick Baline drifts through this world, a small‑time figure whose charm and drive pull him toward a glittering yet precarious rise. A blossoming romance with Lois, the daughter of a powerful family, adds a personal thread to the swirl of jazz, whispered deals, and the promise of a brighter future beyond the nightly clamor.
The tone is a sleek blend of gritty realism and romantic yearning, where personal aspirations clash with the unspoken codes of an underground society. Relationships are layered with quiet tensions, hinting at shifting loyalties and the ever‑present question of how far one will go to secure a place in a world that rewards both daring and discretion. The atmosphere is thick with smoky lounges, restless eyes, and the soft undercurrent of change.
As the narrative widens, the focus pivots from the bustling clubs of America to the broader canvas of a world at war. Characters traverse continents, from the bustling ports of Casablanca to wartime Europe, where covert operations and resistance movements intertwine with personal quests. Ilsa, a poised and enigmatic figure, and Victor, a determined participant in the fight against oppression, anchor this new chapter, suggesting a delicate balance between duty and desire amid the chaos of global conflict.
Through its shifting settings, the film weaves an intimate portrait of individuals striving to redefine themselves against ever‑evolving backdrops. The style oscillates between the intimate glow of dimly lit cafés and the icy tension of secret missions, creating a richly textured mood that invites curiosity about how these lives will intersect and evolve as history unfolds around them.
What Happens in As Time Goes By?
The complete story of As Time Goes By, from the first scene to the last, in 551 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
1931-35. Yitzik “Rick” Baline is a small-time New York criminal navigating the gritty world of Prohibition-era crime. He crosses paths with Lois, the daughter of the powerful gangster Solly Horowitz, and their budding romance earns Rick Solly’s favor. This alliance helps Rick ascend to power as the boss of the Tootsie-Wootsie Club, a bustling speakeasy that becomes a magnet for underworld figures and patrons alike. Yet Rick’s rise isn’t without rivals; Tick-Tock, Solly’s stern principal aide, watches Rick with envy and schemes to position himself as Solly’s eventual successor should the older man step away or fall.
Solly makes it clear that Lois’s future should lie beyond the shadows of crime, steering her toward a more respectable life. She eventually marries Robert Meredith, a lawyer who dreams of politics, even though Lois does not truly love him. This union destabilizes the Horowitz faction, feeding resentment and fueling conflict. As gang warfare erupts among the Horowitz, Salucci, and O’Hanlon clans, the violence compounds, and the street power plays grow lethal. In a brutal turn of events, Solly and Tick-Tock are killed, and Lois and her husband—exposed as a corrupt politician—meet their end as the criminal landscape collapses around them. Rick, now a fugitive, seizes Solly’s money—half a million dollars believed to be destined for Lois—and flees America with his ally Sam, heading to Boston. In a final act of reinvention, Rick changes his name to Richard Blaine as the pair plot a long journey away from the life they left behind.
1941-42. The trajectory shifts as Rick, Louis, and Sam depart Casablanca with documents from Louis, making their way through Lisbon to London. With America now drawn into World War II, the trio becomes entwined in larger currents of resistance and escape. Their path leads them toward a reawakening of purpose: Victor—their ally—yearns to reclaim a crucial role in the Czech Resistance, while Ilsa begs to be drawn into the mission, and Rick and Louis agree to help, though Sam remains in London to hold the line.
Ilsa, a woman of formidable resolve who speaks perfect Russian, is dispatched to Prague to work as an assistant to Reinhard Heydrich, the feared “Butcher of Prague.” Her cover as a White Russian grants her access to the inner circle, and she earns Heydrich’s trust to the point where he contemplates making her his mistress. The Soviet-backed plan to strike at the heart of the Nazi leadership—Operation Anthropoid—proceeds despite the ever-present risk and the cold shadows of betrayal. In the tangled web of loyalties, Victor reluctantly accepts the possibility that Louis might have betrayed them, and tragedy follows when Victor kills Louis and then assassinates Heydrich, sacrificing himself in the process.
With North Africa returning to Allied hands, the story arcs toward a new chapter: Ilsa and Rick marry and return to Casablanca, traveling with Sam. In this reimagined landscape, Carl emerges as the new owner of the famed café, and Rick’s Café Américain continues to operate under new stewardship, maintaining its place at the center of the city’s night life and its unfolding political intrigues. The long road from Prohibition-era crime to wartime resistance and a rebuilt Casablanca underscores a world where personal loyalties, romantic currents, and shifting power dynamics intersect in ways that reshape Rick’s destiny and the fate of those around him.
As Time Goes By Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Rick Baline rises in Prohibition-era New York” to “Ilsa and Rick return to Casablanca and marry”. 13 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Rick Baline rises in Prohibition-era New York
In Prohibition-era New York, Rick Baline operates as a small-time criminal. He meets Lois, daughter of Solly Horowitz, a powerful gangster, and quickly becomes Solly's favorite. This relationship seeds Rick's rise within the Horowitz orbit.
When:1931-35 Where:New York
- 2
Becomes boss of the Tootsie-Wootsie Club
Rick takes control of the Tootsie-Wootsie Club, turning it into a favored speakeasy under his management. His rise brings him closer to Lois and Solly, but also inflames rivalries. The club becomes a focal point of the neighborhood's underworld.
When:1931-35 Where:New York
- 3
Tick-Tock's challenge to Rick's succession
Solly's principal assistant Tick-Tock dislikes Rick and schemes to become his heir should Solly retire or die. The tension between Rick and Tick-Tock foreshadows a dangerous power struggle. Rival factions within the Horowitz operation escalate the danger.
When:1931-35 Where:New York
- 4
Lois marries for status
Solly makes it clear Lois is meant for better things, and she eventually marries a lawyer and would-be politician, Robert Meredith. She does not truly love him, highlighting the clash between romance and ambition. Rick watches the arrangement from the sidelines.
When:1931-35 Where:New York
- 5
Gang warfare erupts
Warfare erupts between the Horowitz, Salucci, and O'Hanlon gangs, plunging the city into violence. The conflict claims several lives and destabilizes the underworld economy. Rick's world becomes increasingly dangerous as rival factions clash.
When:1931-35 Where:New York
- 6
Deaths and the fall of Lois's circle
Solly and Tick-Tock are killed in the escalating gang wars. Lois and her husband, exposed as corrupt politicians, are also killed. The violence destroys Rick's former life and pushes him toward a drastic exit.
When:1931-35 Where:New York
- 7
Rick flees with Solly's fortune
Rick must flee America with Solly's money, a half a million dollars, believed to be for Lois. He travels to Boston with Sam, and, as they prepare to sail, he changes his name to Richard Blaine. The escape marks a dramatic break from his past.
When:1931-35 Where:Boston
- 8
Crossing to Europe and adopting a new alias
Rick and Sam travel by steamship to Le Havre, and he officially adopts the name Richard Blaine during the voyage. The journey marks a transition from a New York hoodlum to a man with a mysterious overseas future. The money and the new identity set the stage for Rick's later legend.
When:1931-35 Where:Le Havre
- 9
Casablanca departure and London-bound journey
In 1941-42, Rick, Louis, and Sam depart Casablanca with documents provided by Louis and travel via Lisbon to London as World War II intensifies. They track down Victor, who is keen to resume his part in the Czech Resistance. The voyage marks a turn toward wartime operations beyond the Atlantic.
When:1941-42 Where:Casablanca → Lisbon → London
- 10
Ilsa's Prague placement and Heydrich watching
Ilsa, who speaks perfect Russian, is placed in Prague as an assistant to Reinhard Heydrich, the 'Butcher of Prague'. Her cover as a White Russian earns his confidence and gives her access to his circle. She becomes a key figure in the unfolding plans.
When:1941-42 Where:Prague
Show the other 3 events of As Time Goes By Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Operation Anthropoid moves forward
The plot to assassinate Heydrich—Operation Anthropoid—goes ahead despite last-minute delays and great risks. The mission tests loyalties and nerves as resistance fighters press forward. The operation embodies a climactic wartime gambit.
When:1941-42 Where:Prague
- 12
Louis killed; Heydrich assassinated; Victor dies
Victor kills Louis, convinced he is a traitor, and goes on to assassinate Heydrich but is killed in the process. The double assassination marks a brutal culmination of the mission. The operation exacts a heavy cost on all sides.
When:1941-42 Where:Prague
- 13
Ilsa and Rick return to Casablanca and marry
With North Africa once again in Allied hands, Ilsa and Rick marry and return to Casablanca with Sam. Carl becomes the new owner of Rick's Café Americain, and the cafe continues to operate under new ownership. The ending ties their wartime odyssey back to Rick's old stomping grounds.
When:1942-43 Where:Casablanca
Who Are the Main Characters in As Time Goes By?
11 characters, among them Yitzik 'Rick' Baline, Lois Horowitz and Solly Horowitz: who each one is and the part they play in the story.
- Y'
Yitzik 'Rick' Baline
A small-time NYC criminal whose charm helps him rise to power. He falls for Lois, navigates gang warfare, and eventually flees to Europe, where he assumes the name Richard Blaine to start anew. Rick combines street-smart pragmatism with a romantic streak that complicates his decisions and bonds.
- 💼 Gangster
- ❤️ Romantic
- 🧭 Identity
- LH
Lois Horowitz
Daughter of Solly Horowitz, she is steered toward a better life by her family yet entangled with Rick. Her marriage to a would-be politician contrasts with her lingering emotions and loyalty to Rick. Lois embodies the tension between personal desire and social expectations.
- 💖 Love
- 👔 Ambition
- 🧭 Loyalty
- SH
Solly Horowitz
A powerful gangster who aims to secure his family's future and control through Solly's enterprises. His authority triggers rivalries and violence, and his downfall marks a turning point for the power structure in the underworld. He embodies old-school gangster leadership and the costs of unchecked ambition.
- 💼 Power
- 💣 Violence
- 🕯️ Legacy
- T
Tick-Tock
Solly's principal assistant and a rival to Rick for Solly's favor and the succession of leadership. His scheming and desire to be the heir fuels internal conflict and brutal adjustments within the crime world. He is calculating, relentless, and dangerous.
- 🕵️♂️ Rivalry
- ⚖️ Ambition
- 💢 Threat
- RM
Robert Meredith
A lawyer and would-be politician Lois marries, whose public image hides corrupt practices. His exposure underscores the moral tension between public service and private wrongdoing in a world of power and influence.
- 💼 Corruption
- 🗳️ Politics
- 🧩 Deception
- V
Victor
A resistance-minded ally who seeks to resume his part in Czech operations. His actions lead to key assassinations and betrayals, ultimately paying with his own life in pursuit of a larger cause. Victor embodies the activist spirit within the resistance movement.
- 🧭 Resistance
- 🗡️ Risk
- 🕊️ Sacrifice
- I
Ilsa
A strategist who speaks perfect Russian and serves as an intelligence asset with a cover as a White Russian. Her involvement in the Prague operation and her relationship with Rick add emotional depth to the wartime plot. Ilsa's choices intertwine love, duty, and espionage.
- 🧠 Intelligence
- ❤️ Love
- 🗺️ Alliance
- RH
Reinhard Heydrich
The 'Butcher of Prague' and central target of the assassination plot. His confidence and ruthlessness make him a formidable foe, driving the tension of the mission and the stakes of the operation Anthropoid.
- 🗡️ Target
- 🛡️ Conflict
- 🧭 Danger
- L
Louis
A companion to Rick and Sam who travels with documents and aid. His fate is sealed when Victor aims to eliminate him under suspicions of betrayal, underscoring the perilous nature of wartime loyalty.
- 🧭 Loyalty
- ⚔️ Betrayal
- 🗺️ Travel
- S
Sam
Rick's loyal ally who accompanies him through the journey, providing support and companionship. Sam embodies steadfast friendship amid shifting loyalties and dangerous missions.
- 🤝 Friendship
- 🗺️ Travel
- 🛡️ Support
- C
Carl
Owner of Rick's Café Americain in Casablanca, representing a business anchor and a new chapter for Rick’s legacy in the final act. Carl stands as a link to Rick's past and the continued operation of their enterprise.
- 🏨 Business
- 🌀 Continuity
- 🗺️ Location
Where and When Is As Time Goes By Set?
As Time Goes By is set in New York, Boston, Le Havre, Lisbon, London, Prague, Casablanca, North Africa (1931-1935, 1941-1942). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1931-1935, 1941-1942
Two distinct eras structure the film: the 1931-1935 surge of organized crime in New York and the rise of a speakeasy empire, followed by the 1941-1942 wartime period in Europe as resistance networks form. The shift from Prohibition to global conflict drives constant change in fortunes and loyalties. It captures how crime, love, and espionage intersect under pressure.
Where
New York, Boston, Le Havre, Lisbon, London, Prague, Casablanca, North Africa
Set across multiple major cities, starting in Prohibition-era New York and moving to Boston. The characters travel through Le Havre, Lisbon and London before reaching Prague and Casablanca. The narrative also spans North Africa as the war heats up.
- 🏙️ City life
- 🌍 International locales
- ⏳ 1930s-1940s
What Are the Themes of As Time Goes By?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Power & Crime, Love & Betrayal and Identity & Escape.
-
01
Power & Crime
In the shadow of Prohibition and gang rivalries, Rick navigates loyalty and ambition as he rises from a small-time hustler to a powerful boss. The feud among Solly's and Tick-Tock's factions escalates into deadly warfare that reshapes loyalties. Wealth becomes leverage, funding both escape and ambition while eroding trust. The theme shows how crime promises security while exacting a heavy personal cost.
-
02
Love & Betrayal
Romantic attachments clash with family expectations and political calculations. Lois chooses a path that defies love, marrying a politician while remaining entangled with Rick's feelings. Rick's romantic life is tempered by strategy, risk, and the need to survive. Their relationships drive crucial decisions and sow betrayals across shifting loyalties.
-
03
Identity & Escape
Rick rebaptizes himself to flee his past and forge a new destiny. Names and loyalties blur as he travels from America to Europe, adopting Richard Blaine to hide from former crimes. The story uses changing identities to explore how people reinvent themselves under pressure. The journey itself becomes a map of self-preservation and reinvention.
-
04
Resistance & War
WWII provides a backdrop of espionage and resistance, with plans to assassinate Heydrich and the Czech resistance. The characters navigate danger, moral complexity, and the costs of clandestine operations. Victory and sacrifice intertwine as allied forces gain momentum in North Africa and across Europe. The theme highlights how survival intersects with collective resistance.
What Kind of Film Is As Time Goes By?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a complex story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Complex
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A fast-paced, high-stakes epic spanning decades that combines the gritty tension of gangland violence with the dark suspense of wartime espionage, creating a heavy and fatalistic yet romantically charged atmosphere.
- gritty
- anxious
- melancholic
- suspenseful
- romantic
- fatalistic
- organized crime
- political betrayal
- wartime resistance
- romantic entanglement
Content notes: gang violence, assassination, political corruption, wartime violence.
Quiz
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