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Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Lulu Belle (1948). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
After a late-night Broadway performance, the famed singer Lulu Belle and her rich suitor Harry Randolph are found shot and badly wounded in Lulu’s dressing room, just after the curtain falls. The shocking scene is discovered by Lulu’s closest confidante, Molly Benson, and the two are hurried to the hospital as doctors race to save them. The case instantly becomes a burning mystery, and suspicion stretches wide as the evidence points in several directions.
The initial suspect is Lulu’s ex-husband, George Davis. He has a notorious history, including a prior conviction for attempted murder of a man who posed a threat to Lulu. During a tense interrogation, George recounts how he first met Lulu at a seedy venue, the Natchez Café, in New Orleans. He was so captivated by her that he left his fiancée and his law practice to elope with her, hoping for a life of luxury. Their volatile romance zigzagged between passion and danger, and when money ran dry, Lulu drifted into the arms of another man, the mysterious high-stakes gambler Mark Brady who could bankroll her glamorous dreams.
George comes to realize that Lulu is a dangerous magnet pulling him deeper into a world he wants to escape, and he ultimately ends the relationship. Yet the lure of Lulu is strong, and it isn’t long before they reunite. Lulu’s star begins to rise again when Mark offers her a job as a singer at a club he is founding, and George starts drinking to dull the ache of his losses and broken promises. The story grows richer with a cast of powerful others who orbit Lulu’s ambitions, as she moves from New Orleans to New York, chased by the bright glare of the stage lights.
On the New York side of the country, Lulu’s career begins to take shape under the financial and strategic care of [Mark Brady], who throws his resources into building her into a Broadway sensation. The partnership grows into something more personal when a wealthy patron, [Harry Randolph], becomes smitten with her and decides to help her ascend even higher. Randolph’s influence helps Lulu secure a theater of her own, a shining beacon of promise in the big city. After five years of working closely together, Randolph asks Lulu to marry him, a step that would seal their collaboration and her place in the Broadway pantheon.
Meanwhile, Lulu discovers that [George Davis] has recently been released from prison, and she invites him to her apartment as part of a hesitant attempt to reconcile. Meanwhile, [Mark Brady] remains in the wings, still pursuing Lulu and anxious to reclaim the life she now enjoys. From the shadows, Mark returns to the theater and makes one last, forceful bid to win Lulu back, but she refuses to go with him, choosing instead to stay true to the path she is carving with Randolph.
George, drawn by Lulu’s charisma and the old flame, reappears with a renewed, dangerous charm, and the pair rekindle their connection, vowing to start a new life together away from the limelight. The tension between past loyalties and present ambitions intensifies as Lulu weighs a proposal of marriage from Randolph against the longing for a fresh start with a man she cannot quite leave behind. Then comes the night of the shooting, a moment that will force every player in Lulu’s world to confront the truth of what truly binds them.
In the present, Police Commissioner John Dixon gathers everyone connected to the story—Lulu, Mrs. Gloria Randolph, [George Davis], [Mark Brady], Molly, and others—around the bedside of the dying Harry Randolph. In a careful, procedural moment, Dixon prompts Randolph to name the shooter. With a final, revealing breath, Randolph identifies his wife as the culprit, turning the case on its head and sending ripples through every relationship in Lulu’s orbit. The revelation clears George of any wrongdoing in the shooting, vindicating him and letting him out of the shadow of suspicion.
As the hospital lights glow softly, [George Davis] remains by Lulu’s side, ensuring she has the strength to recover and regain her voice. Once she wakes, he steps away to return to his quiet hometown, choosing a life far from the glare of Broadway and the perilous romance that defined their days. The story closes on a note of quiet, unresolved longing and the enduring question of whether love can outlast the temptations of fame, money, and the dangerous charm of a life lived in the spotlight.
Follow the complete movie timeline of Lulu Belle (1948) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
The shooting in Lulu's dressing room
Lulu Belle and her rich suitor Harry Randolph are found shot and severely wounded in her dressing room after the show. They are discovered by Lulu's best friend, Molly Benson, and rushed to the hospital. The shocking scene kicks off a tense investigation into who fired the shot.
George Davis becomes the prime suspect
George Davis is named the leading suspect because of his violent past and his volatile relationship with Lulu. During interrogation he recounts how he met Lulu and the turbulent path that followed. The interview hints at motive, jealousy, and the possibility that Lulu's world of power and lovers played a part.
Lulu and George meet at Natchez Café
George meets Lulu for the first time at the Natchez Café, a dodgy venue in New Orleans, and he leaves his fiancée and law practice to elope with her. They drift into a life of luxury for a while, until their fortunes run dry and Lulu turns to another man for support.
George realizes Lulu is trouble and leaves her
George quickly realizes Lulu is bad news and decides to leave her. He pulls away emotionally, trying to protect himself from the spiraling lifestyle she drags him into. The breakup marks a turning point that pushes Lulu toward stronger partners.
Lulu joins Mark Brady's operation
Lulu is offered a job by Mark Brady as a singer at a club he is starting, fueling her rising profile. George sinks into heavy drinking to drown his sorrows, and he tries to enlist Molly to help stop Lulu's reckless life.
Randolph enters Lulu's orbit
That night, a wealthy man named Harry Randolph visits the club with his wife and is instantly smitten with Lulu. He decides to fund her growth and help her become a Broadway star. His generosity marks the beginning of a long involvement in shaping her career.
George defeats Butch, pays with prison
George instigates a fight with boxer Butch and is badly beaten, ending Butch's career. He uses a fork to injure Butch's eye and is eventually convicted, leading to prison time. Lulu's world of high-stakes ambition continues to rise while George's life spirals downward.
Lulu moves to New York with Randolph; Broadway dream begins
Randolph takes Lulu to New York to pursue Broadway dreams, financing a theater and propelling her ascent. Over the next five years their professional partnership deepens as she becomes a star under his patronage.
Randolph proposes; Lulu rejects marriage
After five years of working closely together, Randolph asks Lulu to marry him, offering security and status. Lulu considers the offer but remains wary of commitments that would tie her to one man. His disappointment foreshadows the tension surrounding her relationships.
George's release and Lulu's decision
Lulu learns that George has been released from prison and invites him to her apartment, seeking a chance to start anew. Mark reappears at the theater and tries to win her back, but Lulu refuses his advances. The past collides with the present in a tense love triangle.
reunion and vow to a new life
George and Lulu reunite after the show; she proclaims her love for him and they plan to start over together. They decide to leave their old lives behind and forge a different path. Lulu rejects Randolph again, intensifying rivalries and setting the stage for the fatal night.
The night of the shooting
That night arrives with mounting tension as Lulu faces the consequences of her choices. In her dressing room, shots are fired, leaving Lulu and Randolph gravely wounded. The investigation intensifies as everyone wonders who pulled the trigger.
Present investigation and the shooter revealed
Police Commissioner Dixon gathers all involved at the dying Randolph's bedside. He asks Randolph to name the shooter, and Randolph reveals that it was his wife who fired the shot. The revelation vindicates George and clears him of the charges.
Aftermath: George's vindication and Lulu's recovery
With the truth revealed, George is freed and remains by Lulu's side to help her recover. After she stabilizes, he returns to his hometown to start anew. The ending leaves behind a bittersweet balance of fame, loyalty, and unresolved longing.
Explore all characters from Lulu Belle (1948). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Lulu Belle (Dorothy Lamour)
A famous Broadway singer whose charm steers her through a web of wealthy backers and former lovers. She moves from the Natchez Café to New York’s Broadway, using performance and allure to fuel her rise. Ambitious and alluring, she resists marriage to Harry Randolph while rekindling feelings for her ex-husband George Davis. Her choices drive the emotional tension of the story and set up the dramatic bedside revelation.
Mark Brady (Albert Dekker)
A rich, high-stakes gambler who finances Lulu's early career and helps shape her rise to stardom. He lures Lulu with opportunity and power, then confronts the pitfalls of their entwined lives. His presence reinforces the theme of money as a driver of ambition and romance. He becomes a pivotal voice in Lulu’s life, even as the line between ally and rival blurs.
Harry Randolph (Otto Kruger)
A wealthy suitor who invests in Lulu's career and envisions a future together. He becomes a major patron and requests Lulu's hand in marriage, complicating her relationships with others. His generosity fuels Lulu's ascent, but his fate is tied to a larger mystery surrounding the shooting. He embodies the lure of secure status through wealth and affection.
Mrs. Gloria Randolph (Charlotte Wynters)
Harry Randolph's wife, whose jealousy and motive culminate in the fatal shooting at the bedside. She emerges as the shooter in the narrative’s twist, reframing the relationships and clearing or condemning others as needed. Her actions act as the central catalyst that reshapes the story’s moral landscape. By the end, her role redefines loyalty and culpability for the other characters.
George Davis (George Montgomery)
Lulu's ex-husband with a history of trouble who left Lulu when money ran out. He reenters Lulu's life as she ascends, embodying a past that lingers despite a new sheen of glamour. His bond with Lulu remains strong, even as he faces legal and personal challenges. Ultimately, his innocence is vindicated when the true shooter is revealed.
Molly Benson (Glenda Farrell)
Lulu's best friend and confidante who discovers the shooting and supports Lulu through the aftermath. She serves as a moral compass and practical ally, helping Lulu navigate the danger and confusion surrounding the crime. Molly embodies loyalty and the human side of a show business world that often thrives on illusion.
Butch Cooper (Greg McClure)
A boxer whose career is derailed after a brutal altercation with Lulu’s ex-husband George. He represents a casualty of Lulu's tangled world of romance and competition, illustrating the collateral damage that can come with high-stakes passions. His confrontation with George underscores the film's themes of violence and consequence.
Duke Weaver (William Haade)
A tougher figure in Lulu's circle, aligned with the tougher, underworld-tinged side of the show business world. His presence adds a layer of grit and danger to the milieu surrounding Lulu and her entourage. Though not the central figure, Duke represents the rough edges that coexist with Lulu's glittering ascent.
Police Commissioner John Dixon (Addison Richards)
The investigator who gathers everyone involved in the case at the dying Randolph’s bedside. He orchestrates the interrogation that leads to the truth about the shooter. Dixon embodies the authority and procedural focus that punctuates the film's mystery with a resolve to uncover motives and ensure justice.
Learn where and when Lulu Belle (1948) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Location
Natchez Café (New Orleans), Broadway (New York), Lulu's dressing room, club scenes
The action unfolds across key sites from a gritty Natchez Café in New Orleans to the glamorous stage of Broadway in New York. The story moves through Lulu's dressing room, a nightclub where she performs, and the theater built to showcase her star power. These settings contrast the seedier venues with high-society glamour, reflecting Lulu's rise and the personal costs involved.
Discover the main themes in Lulu Belle (1948). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Fame and Ambition
Lulu Belle's climb to Broadway fame drives the plot, showing how ambition and performance lure her into relationships with powerful backers. Backers like Mark Brady and Harry Randolph fund her career, shaping her rise from club singer to stage star. The film uses show business as a lens on desire, power, and the costs of success. The narrative suggests that ambition can blur personal boundaries and choices.
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Love and Jealousy
Romance intertwines with power as Lulu navigates affection from ex-husband George, financier Mark Brady, and benefactor Harry Randolph. The relationships become competitive and unstable, testing loyalty and desire. Jealousy and manipulation push the characters toward impulsive decisions. The tension culminates in a ven diagram of love, control, and the threat of violence.
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Truth and Justice
The investigation frames the latter part of the story, as authorities gather suspects and motives at the bedside of the dying suitor. Truth emerges slowly, reframing loyalties and revealing hidden agendas. The revelation that Gloria Randolph is the shooter reassigns culpability and vindicates George Davis. The ending underscores a justice that sits beyond romantic triumph, within a tangled web of ambition and betrayal.

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Discover the spoiler-free summary of Lulu Belle (1948). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the sultry glow of a New Orleans nightclub, Lulu Belle commands attention with a voice that seems to capture the city’s restless heart. Her meteoric rise as a singer catches the eye of George Davis, a polished attorney whose life has been ordered and respectable—until he trades his courtroom for the rhythm of her world. Their whirlwind marriage feels both a promise of shared glamour and a fragile pact stretched over the fragile line between fortune and failure.
When money dries up and the couple is forced to confront the gap between their dreams and reality, Lulu turns to the smoky corners of the club scene to keep the lights on. In an effort to protect herself—and perhaps to test the limits of George’s devotion—she entertains a flirtation with the charismatic boxer Butch Cooper, a move that layers their relationship with jealousy, pride, and unspoken rivalry. The tension crackles like a taut string, hinting at choices that could either bind or break them apart.
Seeking a fresh start away from the haze of the South, Lulu follows a new opportunity to New York, where the allure of Broadway looms large and the city’s relentless pace mirrors her own ambition. There she encounters Harry Randolph, a wealthy patron whose confidence in her talent offers both a ticket to stardom and a new kind of intimacy. As her star climbs, she must navigate the pull of fame, the promise of security, and the lingering echo of a love that once seemed inevitable.
The film unfolds as a lush, melodious portrait of a woman at the crossroads of art and affection, set against the backdrop of smoky clubs and glittering marquees. Its tone drifts between the seductive melancholy of yearning and the bright optimism of possibility, inviting the audience to wonder whether fame can ever truly quiet the heart’s restless song.
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