What Is Female About?
The premise of Female in 295 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the glittering world of 1930s industry, a sleek automobile empire pulses with ambition, wealth, and the relentless drive of a single woman at its helm. Alison Drake inherited her father’s massive factory and has forged it into a powerhouse, thriving in a sphere where men normally dictate the rules. Her reputation for uncompromising efficiency and razor‑sharp authority has made her a legend among executives, yet the same steel that fuels her business leaves little room for the softer, more vulnerable side of life. Surrounded by opulent parties, high‑stakes deals, and a cadre of admirers who often see her success as a prize, she wrestles with the paradox of being both the most coveted and the most isolated figure in her circle.
Amidst the clang of machinery and the hum of boardrooms, an unexpected professional encounter introduces a counterpoint to her world. Jim Thorne, a talented design engineer, arrives with a reputation for ingenuity and a demeanor that resists easy categorization. Hired from a rival firm, his focus on technical brilliance and his refusal to be swayed by charm set up an immediate, electric tension. Their interactions crack the polished surface of the factory’s hierarchy, hinting at a rivalry that could sharpen both their talents—or ignite something far more personal.
The film balances the sleek, high‑society aesthetics of a corporate empire with the intimate, almost mischievous moments when two strong wills collide. It weaves a tone that is equal parts sophisticated glamour and understated longing, inviting the audience to wonder whether a partnership born from competition can evolve into a partnership of the heart. As the stakes of the business rise, so does the curiosity about how Alison and Jim will navigate the fine line between professional respect and the allure of an unexpected romance.
What Happens in Female?
The complete story of Female, from the first scene to the last, in 495 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Alison Drake is the wealthy owner and hard-driving, no-nonsense head of a large automobile company, inherited from her father. Her relentless focus on work has cooled her youthful romanticism, and she maintains casual affairs with men, including some of her own employees. She presides over a glamorous, high-stakes world where power, money, and reputation ride hand in hand.
At a party held in her opulent mansion, she grows weary of men who seem to be after her wealth or eager to seal a marriage for financial gain. Seeking a little freedom, she slips away to a nearby amusement park and winds up meeting a man at a shooting gallery. Their time together is playful and carefree, and for a moment she forgets the grind of her daily life, even as he declines her invitation to go back with her that night.
The following day, fate brings them back into each other’s orbit at her factory. To their mutual astonishment, the man is Jim Thorne, a gifted engineer she has hired away from a rival company. He approaches the meeting with a calm professionalism, eager to discuss technical plans, not romance, and he makes it clear that their relationship must remain within the bounds of employer and employee.
That evening, she invites him to her mansion under the guise of a serious business discussion, then tries to seduce him. He resists, insisting that their connection be kept professional and strictly transactional. The rejection irks her, and she turns to her loyal assistant, Pettigrew, for a fresh take on the situation. He offers a blunt truth: many men crave a softer, less independent partner, so she adopts a different approach to win him over.
A new plan forms: she arranges a picnic and, through a patient, calculated charm, she wears down his defenses. The effort pays off, and he gives in to the growing attraction between them. The next day, he arrives at her office with a marriage license, but she candidly tells him that she preferred their arrangement as it was, and he reacts with anger and resignation, quitting his position.
Meanwhile, the company faces a fresh hurdle. The business demands more financing to stay afloat, but a rival firm is maneuvering to take over, and local banks have shut them out. She sets up a meeting with New York bankers, yet the looming crisis shifts her priorities: she discovers she cannot imagine life without Jim.
Determined to protect what they might build together, she has the police track his whereabouts and sets off in pursuit. She eventually locates him again at another shooting gallery and makes a bold confession: she is willing to marry him. The potential path forward becomes clear—together they could fly to New York in time to save the company. Yet the arrangement takes a final, provocative turn: she envisions him running the firm, while she imagines a future with nine children, indicating that love and ambition will redefine both their lives.
Female Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Mansion party drives Alison to seek escape” to “Ending: marriage, leadership, and nine children”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Mansion party drives Alison to seek escape
At her mansion party, Alison grows tired of men courting her for money. She hides her status by dressing down and escapes the crowd to seek real romance. She heads to an amusement park, hoping for a chance encounter that is less about power and leverage.
When:Evening Where:Mansion
- 2
Chance encounter at the amusement park
At the amusement park’s shooting gallery, Alison chooses a man for a light fling. They enjoy themselves, but he refuses her invitation to go home with her. The flirtation leaves her curious about ordinary, unpressured romance.
When:Night Where:Amusement park
- 3
Jim Thorne revealed as her target hire
The next day at her factory, Alison and the man she met discover each other again. He is Jim Thorne, the gifted engineer she has hired away from a rival. Their professional dynamic sharpens into mutual curiosity.
When:Day Where:Factory
- 4
Mansion rendezvous and seduction plan
Alison invites Jim to her mansion to discuss his plans for the company, then tries to seduce him. He rejects the advances, insisting their relationship remain professional. The power balance shifts as Alison confronts her own vulnerability.
When:Night Where:Mansion
- 5
Pettigew's advice to soften approach
Annoyed by rejection, Alison turns to her assistant Pettigew. He suggests that men respond to softer, less independent women. She resolves to adjust her tactics and keep control of the situation.
When:Day Where:Office
- 6
A cunning picnic and a softer approach succeeds
Following the advice, Alison arranges a picnic to win Jim over. She uses charm and humor to wear down his defenses. Eventually Jim yields to her persistence and attraction.
When:Day Where:Picnic spot
- 7
Jim discovers marriage license and quits
The next day Jim arrives at the office with a marriage license. Alison declares that she likes their current arrangement and refuses to marry, prompting Jim to quit his job. The conflict between independence and commitment deepens.
When:Day Where:Office
- 8
Financing threat to the company
With the company needing more financing, a rival firm schemes to take over and has persuaded local banks to deny loans. Alison faces a grave threat to her business and her freedom. The stakes rise as the firm’s survival hangs in the balance.
When:Day Where:City banks
- 9
NYC bankers meeting planned
She schedules a meeting with bankers in New York, hoping to secure funds. Yet she breaks down at the thought of losing Jim and realizes she cannot live without him. Personal and professional pressures collide as she contemplates her future.
When:Day Where:New York City
- 10
Pursuit and shooting gallery reunion
The police help trace Jim’s movements and Alison drives off to find him. She locates him at another shooting gallery and tells him she is willing to marry him. Jim agrees that they can work toward a future together.
When:Day Where:Shooting gallery
- 11
Flight to New York to save the company
They decide to fly to New York to save the company in time, combining romance with a high-stakes business plan. Jim would run the firm, while Alison imagines a large family and a new balance of power. The imminent trip marks a turning point for both.
When:Day Where:Plane en route to New York
- 12
Ending: marriage, leadership, and nine children
In the final turn, Alison agrees to marry Jim and let him lead the company, while she dreams of nine children. The partnership signals a new balance between ambition and romance. They commit to their shared future as they race to avert the takeover.
When:Ending Where:En route to New York
Who Are the Main Characters in Female?
3 characters, among them Alison Drake (Ruth Chatterton), Jim Thorne (George Brent) and Pettigrew (Ferdinand Gottschalk): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- AD
Alison Drake (Ruth Chatterton)
Played by Ruth Chatterton
The wealthy, no-nonsense founder and head of a large automobile company who treats romance as a convenience. She is fiercely independent, calculating, and skilled at leveraging social power to steer her business. Her arc centers on balancing personal longing with professional leadership.
- 💼 Business
- 👩💼 Female Lead
- 💪 Independent
-
Jim Thorne (George Brent)
Played by George Brent
A brilliant engineer hired to improve Alison's company. Proud and principled, he resents being treated as a tool of her ambition, yet cannot ignore the undeniable attraction. His pride leads him to quit rather than submit, and his relationship with Alison evolves into a complicated romance.
- 🧠 Intelligent
- 💼 Professional
- 💘 Romance
- P(
Pettigrew (Ferdinand Gottschalk)
Played by Ferdinand Gottschalk
Alison's cunning assistant who dispenses pragmatic advice about men and social dynamics. He hints at the psychology behind Alison's tactics and helps her navigate the power interplay of wealth and romance.
- 🎭 Manipulation
- 🧭 Strategy
Where and When Is Female Set?
Female is set in Alison Drake's mansion, automobile factory, amusement park and New York City (Early 1930s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early 1930s
Set during the early 1930s, in the midst of the Great Depression, when business and finance dominated headlines. Banks tighten their grip and takeover threats loom, heightening the stakes for Alison's company. The era shapes the characters' choices and frames the urgency of preserving a business amid economic uncertainty.
Where
Alison Drake's mansion, automobile factory, amusement park, New York City
The story unfolds across Alison Drake's grand mansion, the sprawling automobile factory she commands, and a lively amusement park where personal chemistry flares. It also moves to New York City as the financing pressures push the plot toward bankers and high-stakes decisions. These locations illustrate a divide between opulent private space, industrial power, and public entertainment as arenas for ambition.
- 🏰 Mansion
- 🏭 Factory
- 🎢 Amusement Park
- 🗽 City
What Are the Themes of Female?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Corporate Power, Gender Roles and Financial Pressure.
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01
Corporate Power
Alison Drake wields unprecedented control in a male-dominated industry, shaping hiring, strategy, and even romantic entanglements to serve the business. The film probes how power is exercised in boardrooms and mansions alike. It questions whether a woman can sustain independence while navigating the demands of leadership.
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02
Gender Roles
Alison defies expectations by leading a company and using social influence as a strategic tool. The story explores the tension between professional ambition and personal vulnerability. Relationships become arenas where affection and power negotiate each other.
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03
Financial Pressure
Financing challenges and the threat of a takeover loom over Alison's company, forcing difficult calculations and urgent alliances. Banks and investors set the pace, while economic suspense drives the plot. The crisis tests the resilience of both the business and its uneasy romance.
What Kind of Film Is Female?
Light in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A sophisticated and playful romantic comedy that breezily explores the dynamics of power and love between a formidable businesswoman and an independent man within a glamorous, high-stakes world.
- playful
- confident
- seductive
- whimsical
- carefree
- glamorous
- battle of the sexes
- career woman
- power dynamics
- casual affairs
Content notes: sexual harassment.
Quiz
How well do you remember Female? Test yourself on the story.
