Kiss and Tell 1945

Comedy

Runtime

90 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Scott Elliott

Made by

Columbia Pictures

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Kiss and Tell Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Kiss and Tell (1945). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

At a USO bazaar that isn’t drawing a crowd, Corliss Archer teams up with her best friend, Mildred Pringle, to try a bold idea: selling kisses to the soldiers. The scheme takes off, drawing in a steady stream of servicemen and turning the booth into the highlight of the bazaar. Yet the success stirs trouble back home when Mrs. Archer assumes the worst about the girls’ conduct and places the blame squarely on [Mildred Pringle]. The tension at the Pringle dinner table grows into a wall between the Pringles and the Archers, and Mr. Pringle resolves that his family will stop socializing with the Archers.

That same night, [Corliss Archer] accents her bravado by pretending to be older and flirting with young Private Jimmy Earhart who’s invited to dinner. In truth, she’s actually dating the boy next door, Dexter Franklin, the son of Bill Franklin and Mary Franklin. After Lenny Archer returns on a brief leave from the Air Force, he proposes to [Mildred Pringle], and the couple hurriedly wed across the state line. They go home to break the news, only to find the feud between the Pringles and Archers has intensified, leaving both families out of speaking terms. The dramatic rift widens as [Mr. Pringle] and [Mr. Archer] collide in a fistfight, and the resulting injuries spark lawsuits that drag on for months.

Meanwhile, the pregnancy adds another layer of urgency to the crisis. Mildred learns she is expecting, and she and [Dexter Franklin] visit an obstetrician. A town gossip, [Mrs. Wilcox], spots them and broadcasts the insinuations, fueling the Pringle plan to blame Corliss for the pregnancy and point to Jimmy Earhart as the father. Corliss refuses to let Mildred and her brother bear the burden alone, so she admits she is pregnant herself; the counter-accusation then targets Dexter as the possible father. To complicate matters further, Corliss fabricates a story about a wedding across the state line, and she asks Dexter to help by lying as well.

To untangle the knots, Uncle George Archer, a Navy chaplain, steps in and suggests a proper ceremony to settle the confusion. The families endure further shocks when the war news arrives that [Lenny Archer] has performed heroically and is coming home, prompting Mildred to reveal the truth about her marriage and pregnancy—and to confirm that Corliss had accompanied her to the doctor, revealing that Mrs. Wilcox’s earlier gossip was mistaken. Realizing the misreadings and biases, the Pringles rush to tell the Archers the latest developments, and the house fills with the sound of a wedding march as the two families face the truth together. In the end, the misunderstandings are cleared, the grandchildren are on the way, and the two families reconvene in a spirit of reconciliation.

Kiss and Tell Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Kiss and Tell (1945) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Kisses scheme at the USO bazaar

Corliss Archer suggests selling kisses at the USO bazaar, hoping to draw soldiers to their booth. The plan quickly becomes a hit, and business booms as men eagerly leave tips and smiles. When the girls' mothers discover the scheme, Mrs. Archer blames Mildred and the Pringles' anger sets off a family feud that ends their social ties.

Evening USO bazaar

Corliss flirts at dinner; Dexter in the background

That same night, Corliss pretends to be older and flirts shamelessly with Private Jimmy Earhart during dinner at the Archer home. She is secretly dating Dexter Franklin, the boy next door, adding another layer of deception. The mood in the house becomes tense as the new relationship dynamics unfold.

Dinner time (same night as bazaar) Archer home

Lenny proposes and the elopement

Lenny Archer returns on short leave from the Air Force and proposes to Mildred. The couple marry in secret, across the state line, before telling their families. The early happiness is overshadowed by the rift growing between the Archers and Pringles.

Late night to early morning Archer home; state line

Families split; fistfight and lawsuits

The news of the elopement triggers a severing of ties between the two families; they stop speaking to each other. A fist fight erupts between Mr. Pringle and Mr. Archer, leaving injuries behind and sparking lawsuits. The feud drags on for months, souring every family gathering.

Following morning Archers and Pringles households

Secret kept; pressure to stay quiet

Lenny finds a way to protect their secret by telling Corliss to keep quiet about what they did. Corliss swears she won't tell anyone, hoping to spare their families from more trouble. The burden of the lie hangs over the household.

That morning Archer home

Feud escalates; months of tension

The feud intensifies as legal actions pile up and the men clash publicly at times. Neighbors watch as the dispute stretches out, gnawing at both families’ reputations. Months pass with little chance of reconciliation.

Months later Town

Mildred's pregnancy revealed

Mildred discovers she is pregnant and goes to an obstetrician with Corliss at her side. They are spotted by Mrs. Wilcox, the town gossip, who eagerly passes the information to Mrs. Pringle. The pregnancy becomes a new weapon in the ongoing feud.

A few days after the pregnancy is discovered Obstetrician's office; street

Confrontation over pregnancy

Mrs. Pringle confronts the Archers, claiming Corliss is pregnant and that Jimmy Earhart is the father. To avoid trouble for Mildred, Corliss admits the pregnancy and tries to control the damage by naming another man as the father, Dexter Franklin.

Soon after the gossip Archer home

Paternity lies intensify

Corliss continues to lie about the paternity, insisting Dexter is the father and attempting to angle for a simpler explanation. She also intercepts her mother by telling Dexter what she has said, asking him to help lie for her.

Soon after the first confession Archer home; Dexter's location

The marriage claim is tested

To soften the blow, Corliss claims she and Dexter are already married. Mr. Archer doubts the claim and contacts the local judge, who confirms that an Archer was married there months earlier. The truth begins to unravel amid renewed family tension.

Evening State-line jurisdiction; Archer home

A proper wedding ceremony

Uncle George Archer, a Navy chaplain, insists on performing a proper wedding ceremony for the young couple. The community finally recognizes their union in a formal setting, even as the feud simmers elsewhere. The ceremony marks a turning point in the family's dynamics.

That night Archer home

Heroism and revelations

The same night, Mildred hears news that Lenny has performed heroically in the war and is coming home soon. She gathers the courage to tell her family about her own marriage and pregnancy, and she informs her mother about Corliss's doctor's visit. Mrs. Archer realizes Mrs. Wilcox was wrong.

That night Archer home

Reconciliation begins

The Pringles rush to tell the Archers the news, entering the house to the sound of a wedding march. The two families realize they are going to be grandparents, and the long feud begins to soften as they reconcile.

That night Archer home

Kiss and Tell Characters

Explore all characters from Kiss and Tell (1945). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Corliss Archer (Shirley Temple)

A resourceful and impulsive teenager who sparks a kiss-selling scheme at the USO bazaar. Corliss is quick-witted, often skating the line between mischief and responsibility. Her actions pull both families into a web of secrets, lies, and ultimately growth.

💫 Teen 🤝 Schemer 💬 Social pressure

Mildred Pringle (Virginia Welles)

A kind-hearted Pringle daughter who becomes entangled in the families’ feud and later discovers pregnancy. Mildred embodies resilience under scrutiny and the fear of social repercussions. Her choices push the families toward consequences and, eventually, reconciliation.

👩‍👧‍👦Family 💖 Romance 🗞️ Gossip

Lenny Archer (Scott Elliott)

Harry’s son who returns on leave, proposing to Mildred and catalyzing a rapid, secret marriage. Lenny is impulsive and romantic, and his actions propel the feud into lawsuits and public spectacle. He embodies wartime urgency and the pressure to marry quickly.

🕺 Young Adult ⚡ Impulsive 🛡️ Duty

Raymond Pringle (Darryl Hickman)

The Pringle son who is drawn into the social whirl and the consequences of the feud. Raymond’s role highlights the impact of adult conflicts on younger family members. He becomes part of the wedding and family reconciliation arc.

👦 Youth 🥁 Family conflict

Bob Pringle (Tom Tully)

The Pringle patriarch whose fiery temper fuels the feud with the Archers. Bob’s actions lead to fistfights and lawsuits, pushing the families toward changing their course. He represents the older generation’s code and stubborn pride.

💼 Authority 🥊 Feud 🧩 Family

Dorothy Pringle (Mary Philips)

Mildred’s mother, whose concern for reputation sometimes blinds her to underlying truths. Dorothy embodies the social pressures that govern small-town life. She plays a key role in driving the conflict and later the possibility of resolution.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family 🗣️ Gossip 🧭 Morality

George Archer (Robert Benchley)

Uncle George, a Navy chaplain, offers a voice of calm and faith amid the turmoil. He insists on a proper wedding and helps bridge the gap between feuding families. His presence highlights the role of duty, spirituality, and reconciliation.

⚓ Navy 🕊️ Guidance 🧭 Reconciliation

Dexter Franklin (Jerome Courtland)

Corliss’s neighbor and steady boyfriend turned ally as the truth about marriages and lies surfaces. Dexter is practical and protective, helping navigate tricky social expectations. He participates in the larger resolution that ends the feud.

🧭 Stable Partner 💬 Honest 🕊️ Reconciliation

Jimmy Earhart (Scott McKay)

A young Private and the object of Corliss’s flirtations at times, embodying the wartime military presence in town. His relationships show how romance intersects with duty and service. He becomes part of the rumor mill that drives the plot.

🎖️ Soldier 💘 Romance 🧭 Duty

Mary Franklin (Edna Holland)

Corliss’s mother, a stabilizing force in the family who weighs moral considerations against affectionate impulses. She navigates the shifting social currents and supports her daughter while protecting the family’s reputation.

👩‍👧 Family 🗣️ Gossip 🛡️ Protection

Bill Franklin (Porter Hall)

Corliss’s father, who shares concern for his daughter’s behavior but also finds himself drawn into the conflict with the Archers. He embodies the adult perspective turning toward family unity after the wedding.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family 🗡️ Feud 🛡️ Duty

Kiss and Tell Settings

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Time period

World War II era

Set during the wartime home front, the town balances civil duties with family concerns. The presence of soldiers, airmen on leave, and a Navy chaplain anchors the period. Romance, pregnancy scares, and weddings unfold as communities rally around loved ones overseas.

Location

USO bazaar, Archer family home, Pringle family home, small-town USA

The story unfolds in a close-knit American town centered on two families, the Archers and the Pringles. Key scenes take place at a USO bazaar that brings soldiers through town, and at the Archers’ and Pringles’ homes where family dynamics and rumors simmer. The town square and local gatherings highlight the social pressures and gossip that drive the plot.

🎪 USO bazaar 🏡 Family homes 🌆 Small town 👥 Social life

Kiss and Tell Themes

Discover the main themes in Kiss and Tell (1945). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💞

Romance

Romance drives the plot as Corliss flirts with soldiers and navigates romantic entanglements with Dexter and Jimmy. The couples’ decisions—marriage, pregnancy, and deceit—show how young love collides with social expectations. The story suggests that affection can both heal and complicate family ties.

🗣️

Gossip

Gossip and judgment from town gossip Mrs. Wilcox and others fuel the feud between the Archers and Pringles. Rumors about pregnancies, marriages, and moral status threaten to tear families apart. The characters' reputations become instruments in the conflict, forcing them to confront truth and lies.

🕊️

Reconciliation

Despite the escalating feud, the story builds toward reconciliation as misunderstandings are cleared. An impromptu wedding ceremony and a Navy chaplain’s intervention help mend the rift between families. The climax shows that forgiveness and shared joy can reweave previous hurt into a hopeful future.

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Kiss and Tell Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Kiss and Tell (1945). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a bustling little town caught between wartime duty and home‑front optimism, the community gathers around a modest USO bazaar that struggles to attract soldiers. Into this setting strolls Corliss Archer, a bright‑ eyed fifteen‑year‑old whose quick mind and cheeky charm turn a simple fundraising idea into the talk of the town. Together with her loyal best friend Mildred Pringle, she launches a daring scheme—selling kisses to the servicemen—that instantly transforms the quiet booth into the bazaar’s unexpected centerpiece, setting the tone for a comedy that bubbles with youthful ingenuity.

Behind the rosy veneer of the bazaar, the townspeople’s tight‑knit families loom large. Mrs. Archer’s overprotective nature and Mr. Pringle’s stern respectability clash as rumors swirl, and the mere suggestion that Corliss might be expecting a child spirals into a comedic maelstrom of gossip and mistaken assumptions. The ensuing misunderstandings ripple through the Archer and Pringle households, drawing in neighbors, local officials, and a chorus of well‑meaning but meddlesome townsfolk, each adding their own flavor to the escalating pandemonium.

The film’s style mirrors its Broadway roots, blending brisk, screwball dialogue with a breezy, holiday‑like soundtrack that underscores the era’s optimism. Supporting characters such as the affable Private Jimmy Earhart, the earnest boy‑next‑door Dexter Franklin, and the kindly Navy chaplain Uncle George Archer pepper the narrative with warmth and gentle counsel, offering both comic relief and moments of heartfelt sincerity. Their interactions with Corliss and Mildred highlight the charming clash between teenage spontaneity and the town’s more conventional expectations.

Through a kaleidoscope of witty misunderstandings, light‑hearted confrontations, and ever‑turning social whirl, the story promises a lively exploration of how a single rumor can set an entire community into motion. The tone remains buoyant, inviting viewers to watch the characters navigate the tangled web of small‑town life with humor, hope, and a hint of romantic mischief.

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