What Is Miss Tatlock’s Millions About?
The premise of Miss Tatlock’s Millions in 278 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
The story opens on the sprawling, sun‑drenched estate of the Tatlocks, a family whose fortunes have long been guarded by layers of tradition and a fragile, eccentric heir. The patriarch’s will promises a generous inheritance, but the very presence of the heir, whose mental quirks have turned him into a living curiosity, keeps the relatives at a careful distance. The atmosphere hums with genteel propriety tinged with a restless undercurrent of avarice, setting the stage for a light‑hearted comedy that plays with identity and expectation.
When the unexpected loss of the heir leaves the family in a delicate bind, a savvy Hollywood stunt performer is recruited to fill the void. Tim Burke steps into the role with a blend of daring ingenuity and a talent for mimicry, while Denno Noonan, the ever‑watchful “social secretary,” orchestrates the deception. Around them gather a colorful cast: the genuinely relieved Nan Tatlock, the scheming trio of Miles Tatlock, Gifford Tatlock and Cassie Van Alen, and the charming playboy Nickey Van Alen, whose flirtations add a further layer of intrigue. Their interactions are laced with witty repartee, subtle flirtations, and the ever‑present whisper of a looming windfall.
As the faux heir moves through family gatherings and legal formalities, the Tatlocks’ collective yearning for a slice of the fortune ignites a cascade of comedic misunderstandings. Old loyalties are tested, alliances shift, and the line between performance and reality blurs, especially as Tim finds himself drawn to Nan in ways that complicate his mission. The film balances a breezy, farcical tone with moments of genuine affection, creating a tableau where every smile could mask a scheme and every scheme could blossom into something unexpectedly sincere.
What Happens in Miss Tatlock’s Millions?
The complete story of Miss Tatlock’s Millions, from the first scene to the last, in 501 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Movie stuntman Tim Burke [John Lund] is hired by Denno Noonan [Barry Fitzgerald], the “social secretary” for Schuyler Tatlock, a wealthy but mentally fragile heir whose fortune has drawn the greed of relatives. Schuyler’s kin shipped him off to Hawaii to keep him out of sight, and Noonan has enjoyed a comfortable monthly paycheck watching over him. Two years earlier, Noonan had a drunken lapse and returned to find that Schuyler, after striking matches, had started a fire and burned to a crisp. He never notified the family, savoring the steady income instead. Then a telegram arrives ordering the return of Schuyler for the reading of the grandparents’ will, and Noonan hires Tim to impersonate the missing heir.
Tim dyes his hair and mimics Schuyler’s voice and mannerisms as best he can, and the deception quickly seems complete. Practically the entire family is fooled, including Nan Tatlock [Wanda Hendrix], the one relative who seems genuinely glad to see him. The greed-driven trio of relatives—Miles Tatlock [Monty Woolley], Gifford Tatlock [Dan Tobin], and Cassie Van Alen [Ilka Chase]—begins plotting to name themselves Schuyler’s trustees. They concoct a deal: Nan would receive a $100,000 annual allowance, with Cassie controlling the purse. Cassie also pushes for Nan to wed her own son, Nickey Van Alen [Robert Stack], to keep the fortune in the family. Tim overhears every detail of the scheme.
At his mother’s urging, the playboy Nickey starts courting Nan, and Tim’s growing jealousy fuels his interference. Cassie responds by having Tim locked in his room, but he escapes through a broken greenhouse roof and is knocked unconscious. When he comes to, he speaks with surprising lucidity in Nan’s and Nickey’s presence. Nan recalls that Schuyler’s irrationalities were once linked to a childhood head injury and hopes a second blow might have cured him; Dr. Mason [Leif Erickson] confirms that such a possibility cannot be dismissed, and Tim resolves to remain coherent.
Tim’s feelings for Nan deepen, and she returns his affection with a kiss that tests the line between brotherly and romantic love. But Cassie uncovers the truth and insists Tim preserve the impersonation, lest the entire inheritance go to a charity. After two years, Nan would come of age and Schuyler could be declared dead, allowing Cassie to protect the family’s wealth. Noonan explains to Nan that Schuyler had lucid moments before, only to relapse, and the two set off for Hawaii with the deception still in place.
Everything shifts when the real Schuyler emerges—alive and married to a Hawaiian woman named Kamamamalua. He is eventually tracked down by authorities after a string of arsons. In the end, Nan and Tim are finally reunited, and the tangled scheme collapses around them.
Along the way, a couple of notable cameos appear: Ray Milland as himself and Mitchell Leisen as himself, adding a touch of Hollywood legend to the family drama. The story also threads in Cora [Elizabeth Patterson] and Emily Tatlock [Dorothy Stickney], anchoring the clan’s older generation as the intrigue unfolds.
Miss Tatlock’s Millions Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Tim is hired to impersonate Schuyler Tatlock” to “Nan and Tim are reunited”. 11 events name a place, across 3 locations.
- 1
Tim is hired to impersonate Schuyler Tatlock
Denno Noonan hires Tim Burke for a couple of days to impersonate Schuyler Tatlock and manage the impending inheritance scheme. Tim dyes his hair and studies Schuyler's voice and mannerisms to resemble the real heir as closely as possible. The plan hinges on fooling the family, including Nan, so the fortune stays in Schuyler's control.
When:present
- 2
Schuyler's tragedy remembered; a will-reading looms
Two years earlier, Noonan watched over Schuyler in Hawaii and, upon returning home, learned that a fire Schuyler had started had left him burned to a crisp. Noonan kept this tragedy secret, content with the steady monthly paycheck. A telegram arrives in the present, ordering him to bring Schuyler home for the reading of his grandparents' will.
When:Two years ago; present Where:Hawaii
- 3
Tim completes the impersonation
Tim completes the impersonation by dyeing his hair and mimicking Schuyler's voice and mannerisms. Nearly everyone accepts him as Schuyler, including Schuyler's sister Nan, who is the only member of the family happy to see him. Tim's ruse gives him access to the inheritance and the plot around it.
When:present Where:Tatlock estate
- 4
The will and trustees plot
The vast fortune—nearly six million dollars—appears to be left to Schuyler. Miles, Gifford, and Cassie scheme to become his trustees and control the estate. Cassie offers Nan a deal: a $100,000 annual allowance for Nan, administered by Cassie, to ensure Nan's future while she guides the inheritance.
When:present Where:Tatlock estate
- 5
Tim overhears the scheme
Tim overhears the entire plan among Miles, Gifford, and Cassie. The knowledge reveals how the siblings and aunt intend to keep the fortune within a tight circle. He realizes how precarious Nan's future could be if the deception continues.
When:present Where:Tatlock estate
- 6
Nicky's romance and Tim's jealousy
Under Nan's mother's urging, Nicky—Cassie's son—begins romancing Nan. Tim grows jealous and tries to interfere, leading Cassie to have him locked in his room. The tension tightens as the lovers' fate intertwines with the inheritance scheme.
When:present Where:Tatlock estate
- 7
Tim's escape and fall
Tim escapes his confinement by leaping out a window and falls through a greenhouse roof, leaving him unconscious. Groggy, he later speaks rationally in Nan and Nicky's presence, giving Nan hope that Schuyler's irrationality could be cured. Dr. Mason suggests that it is possible, so Tim resolves to remain lucid and keep up the act.
When:present Where:Tatlock estate greenhouse
- 8
Tim and Nan's romantic moment
Tim falls in love with Nan; Nan kisses him to show the difference between brotherly and romantic love, complicating their situation. The kiss deepens Tim's conflict between loyalty to the deception and his growing feelings. Nan's awakening complicates Cassie's scheme further.
When:present Where:Tatlock estate
- 9
Cassie doubles down after the truth
Cassie discovers the truth of Tim's impersonation and insists he keep up the act to prevent the inheritance from going to charity. She outlines that after Nan comes of age in two years, a staged death could secure the estate for her family. The plot thickens as greed overtakes propriety.
When:in two years Where:Tatlock estate
- 10
Noonan heads toward answers in Hawaii
Noonan tells Nan that Schuyler had lucid periods before, but relapse was common, and that Schuyler's rationality may slip again. The two men depart for Hawaii to pursue the truth and end the deception. The plan to rescue the estate from mismanagement unfolds in the shadows.
When:present Where:Hawaii
- 11
The real Schuyler is revealed and pursued
Noonan produces the real Schuyler, who is very much alive and married to Kamamamalua, a native Hawaiian. The revelation exposes Tim's impersonation and reshapes the inheritance plot. The authorities finally catch up with Schuyler after a long string of arsons, bringing him to justice.
When:present Where:Hawaii
- 12
Nan and Tim are reunited
With the deception exposed, Nan and Tim are reunited and the true future for the fortune becomes clear. The romantic bond between Nan and Tim endures beyond the scheme, and peace returns to the estate. The family wealth will be handled more honestly going forward.
When:present Where:Hawaii
Who Are the Main Characters in Miss Tatlock’s Millions?
10 characters, among them Tim Burke (John Lund), Nan Tatlock and Miles Tatlock: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- TB
Tim Burke (John Lund)
Played by John Lund
A stuntman hired to impersonate Schuyler Tatlock; his initial motive is money, but he grows to care for Nan and opposes Cassie’s plans. His disguise creates tension as he navigates family suspicions and ultimately reveals his true, loyal self.
- 🥸 Impostor
- 💘 Romantic lead
- NT
Nan Tatlock
Played by Wanda Hendrix
Nan is the compassionate Tatlock sister who welcomes Schuyler back but is attracted to Tim. She tests Tim’s sincerity and embodies trust in a family rife with scheming, ultimately seeking the truth.
- ❤️ Romantic
- 👀 Trusting
-
Miles Tatlock
Played by Monty Woolley
One of Schuyler’s greedy uncles who schemes to become a trustee of the fortune. He pursues wealth at the expense of family loyalty and uses Cassie and Gifford to push his agenda.
- 💰 Wealth
- 🧠 Scheming
- GT
Gifford Tatlock
Played by Dan Tobin
Gifford is another Tatlock uncle aligned with Miles in the plot to control the inheritance. He participates in the schemes, highlighting the corrosive effect of money on family bonds.
- 💰 Wealth
- 🧠 Scheming
- CV
Cassie Van Alen
Played by Ilka Chase
Aunt Cassie pushes to secure the inheritance for Nan’s marriage and to maintain control over the fortune. Her pragmatism and manipulation propel the conflict and drive the plot toward a precision-based resolution.
- 👸 Matriarch
- 💰 Scheming
-
Denno Noonan
Played by Barry Fitzgerald
The “social secretary” who keeps Schuyler’s fortune intact while concealing the truth; he orchestrates Tim’s impersonation and accompanies the plan to Hawaii. He embodies greed and opportunism.
- 🕵️♂️ Scheming
- 💰 Greed
- NV
Nickey Van Alen
Played by Robert Stack
Cassie’s son, a playboy whose romance with Nan amplifies the love triangle and adds pressure on the family’s plans.
- 💘 Romance
- 🕴️ Playful
- DM
Dr. Mason
Played by Leif Erickson
The physician who weighs in on Schuyler’s condition and the possibility of rationality returning; his observations influence Tim’s decision to stay lucid when needed.
- 🩺 Doctor
- 🧠 Insight
- C
Cora
Played by Elizabeth Patterson
A Tatlock relative who participates in the family’s circle during the will reading and the ensuing deception.
- 👪 Family
- 🗝️ Trust
- ET
Emily Tatlock
Played by Dorothy Stickney
A Tatlock family matriarch whose presence underscores the stakes of the will and the social expectations surrounding Nan’s future.
- 👩🦳 Matriarch
- 🏛️ Family
Where and When Is Miss Tatlock’s Millions Set?
Miss Tatlock’s Millions is set in Hawaii. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Hawaii
The story partly unfolds in Hawaii, where Schuyler Tatlock is kept out of the way and later brought back for the will reading. The island’s sunny backdrop contrasts with the greed-driven plotting of Miles, Gifford, and Cassie. The location serves as a tropical stage for deception, escape, and eventual revelation.
- 🏝️ Hawai'i setting
- 🏖️ Tropical locale
What Are the Themes of Miss Tatlock’s Millions?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Greed and Romance.
-
01
Identity
Tim Burke's impersonation of Schuyler Tatlock drives the plot, testing trust and social standing through disguise. The ruse keeps relatives and Nan guessing about who is real and who is fake. The film uses artificial identities to explore honesty, loyalty, and consequences.
-
02
Greed
The inheritance is the central engine of conflict, with relatives scheming to gain trusteeship and power over Nan’s future. The pursuit of wealth exposes opportunism and moral compromise within a tight-knit family. The resolution hinges on distinguishing genuine affection from calculated gain.
-
03
Romance
Nan’s feelings for Tim test the limits of trust amid deception. Tim’s jealousy and evolving loyalty complicate the love triangle and push the truth into the open. Romance acts as a moral barometer, guiding characters toward honesty and reconciliation.
What Kind of Film Is Miss Tatlock’s Millions?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced romantic comedy that delivers a playful and lighthearted experience through a series of farcical misunderstandings and clever deceptions within a wealthy family.
- comical
- lighthearted
- playful
- romantic
- deceptive
- mischievous
- mistaken identity
- inheritance
- family greed
- romantic deception
Quiz
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