What Is Now I’ll Tell About?
The premise of Now I’ll Tell in 266 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the smoky heart of 1930s New York, the city’s glittering nightclubs and back‑room gambling dens pulse with restless ambition. Beneath the lights, deals are whispered over clinking glasses, and the underworld moves with a blend of swagger and secrecy that feels both intoxicating and dangerous. The atmosphere is drenched in a gritty romanticism, where every rise seems to promise a fall, and the allure of quick wealth hangs like a neon promise over the streets.
Murray Golden is a charismatic gambler who has made a living turning chance into profit. His philosophy—“you’re only wrong when you fail”—drives him to chase ever‑larger stakes, while his sharp wit and polished demeanor let him navigate the treacherous world of casinos and high‑rollers with ease. Yet at home, Virginia Golden has coaxed a different promise from him: to walk away from the tables once he reaches a half‑million dollars, hoping love will finally eclipse the lure of the game. The tension between his relentless pursuit of riches and his devotion to his wife creates a compelling inner conflict that fuels every decision.
Adding to the mix is Peggy Warren, a captivating presence whose friendship with Murray hints at the complexities of loyalty and desire that the underworld breeds. As Murray climbs higher, the line between ambition and devotion blurs, leaving him perpetually torn between the dazzling promise of wealth and the quiet stability of his marriage. The film’s tone balances suave sophistication with a simmering undercurrent of danger, inviting the audience to wonder how far a man will go when the stakes are both his fortune and his heart.
What Happens in Now I’ll Tell?
The complete story of Now I’ll Tell, from the first scene to the last, in 435 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Murray Golden, Spencer Tracy, is an unscrupulous New York City gambler and casino operator who wants to live life to the fullest. His philosophy is encapsulated in something he keeps saying: > “You’re only wrong when you fail.” His wife, Virginia Golden, Helen Twelvetrees, has extracted a promise that he will quit the business once he makes $500,000. However, when he does, he breaks his word. He also starts seeing Peggy Warren, Alice Faye, behind his wife’s back.
Murray learns that gangster Al Mossiter Robert Gleckler has fixed a championship boxing match. He pays one of the fighters to take a dive in the second round, before Mossiter’s man goes down in the fifth, and wins a lot of money. (Mossiter’s boxer is later murdered.) However, Virginia hears about Peggy and threatens to leave Murray. He manages to convince her that Peggy is the mistress of Freddie Stanton, Hobart Cavanaugh, Murray’s friend and associate. He also tells her that he has made enough money and is getting into the insurance business.
Later, Mossiter learns who double-crossed him and vows to get back everything Murray won from the fight. An associate suggests he kidnaps Virginia. When Murray is told about the kidnapping, he races back to the city, but is injured and Peggy is killed in a car crash. Virginia is freed unharmed when the ransom is paid, but she has had enough. She decides to get a divorce.
Years later, Murray receives a telegram from Virginia, telling him she is sailing home from Europe and has a “surprise”. He is overjoyed, assuming she is coming back to him. However, she tells him that she is going to marry someone else. She asks him for her jewelry. He promises to give it to her in a week, though he is down on his luck and has pawned them.
He gets into a poker game with Mossiter and others. After playing for a day and a half, he owes $210,000. Mossiter buys up all of his IOUs and gives him a deadline to come up with the money. Murray shows up at Mossiter’s hotel room and declares he is not going to pay. Furthermore, he says he is going to tell the district attorney who killed the boxer. After Mossiter shoots him, Murray reveals he took out a life insurance policy on himself in order to raise the money to get Virginia’s jewelry back. He boasts that he has outsmarted his killer (winning a $20 bet they had made). The doctor informs Virginia that Murray is dying, so she lies and tells him she is returning to him.
Now I’ll Tell Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Murray Golden's gamble and vow to quit” to “Final lie: Virginia’s return plan remains a lie”. 11 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Murray Golden's gamble and vow to quit
Murray Golden lives as an unscrupulous New York gambler and casino operator who wants to live life to the fullest. He clings to a hard-edged motto: you're only wrong when you fail. His wife Virginia extracts a promise that he will quit the business once he makes $500,000, a vow he later breaks.
Where:New York City
- 2
Murray starts an affair with Peggy Warren
Shortly after, Murray begins seeing Peggy Warren, keeping the relationship hidden from Virginia. He continues his casino and gambling lifestyle while the affair remains secret from his wife. The tension between loyalty and desire tightens around his promise to quit.
Where:New York City
- 3
Al Mossiter fixes a championship boxing match
Murray learns gangster Al Mossiter has fixed a championship boxing match. He pays one of the fighters to take a dive in the second round; Mossiter's man goes down in the fifth, and Murray wins a lot of money. The scheme shows how far Murray is willing to go to chase a payout.
When:second round Where:New York City
- 4
Mossiter's boxer is murdered
Mossiter’s boxer, the one who took the dive, is murdered later as the fix begins to unravel. The violence heightens Murray’s risk and draws law enforcement attention toward Mossiter’s operation. The stakes of the gamble suddenly become deadly.
Where:New York City
- 5
Virginia confronts Murray; deceit about Peggy
Virginia learns of Murray's affair and threatens to leave him. To keep her from walking away, Murray spins a lie, claiming Peggy is Freddie’s mistress and that he’s moving into the insurance business. The deception deepens the strain on their marriage.
When:shortly after the fight Where:New York City
- 6
Kidnapping plot grows; Peggy dies in a car crash
An associate suggests Mossiter kidnap Virginia to force Murray’s hand. Murray races back to the city when the plan develops, but is injured along the way. Peggy is killed in a car crash during the upheaval, and Virginia is eventually freed after the ransom is paid.
Where:New York City
- 7
Virginia decides to divorce
Despite Virginia’s return to normal life after the kidnapping, she has had enough and decides to end the marriage with a divorce. The betrayal and danger surrounding Murray leave their partnership irreparably broken. The divorce signals a definitive break between them.
Where:New York City
- 8
Years later: Virginia’s Europe voyage and surprise
Years later Murray receives a telegram from Virginia, telling him she is sailing home from Europe with a 'surprise'. He believes she is coming back, but she plans to marry someone else. She asks for her jewelry, and Murray promises to give it in a week, only to discover he has pawned them in hard times.
When:years later Where:Europe (on a voyage home)
- 9
Murray sinks into debt in a marathon poker game
Murray sits down to a grueling poker game with Mossiter and others. After a day and a half, he owes $210,000, and Mossiter buys up all of his IOUs, giving him a strict deadline to come up with the money. The tension mounts as his luck and nerve fail under pressure.
When:day and a half of play Where:Mossiter’s hotel room
- 10
Confrontation leads to a shooting and a secret plan
Murray shows up at Mossiter’s hotel room, refuses to pay, and announces he will tell the district attorney who killed the boxer. Mossiter shoots him, and Murray reveals he had taken out a life insurance policy on himself to fund the plan to reclaim Virginia’s jewelry. He boasts that he has outsmarted his killer by winning a small bet of twenty dollars.
When:immediately after the confrontation Where:Mossiter’s hotel room
- 11
Doctor delivers grim news; Virginia lies to him
A doctor informs Virginia that Murray is dying. She lies to him, telling him that she is returning to him, masking her true intentions and emotions. The scene underscores the fragility of their relationship and the cost of Murray’s double life.
When:after the shooting Where:Hospital
- 12
Final lie: Virginia’s return plan remains a lie
As Murray’s condition worsens, Virginia doubles down on the lie that she is coming back to him. The scene closes the timeline with unresolved tension and a marriage built on deception and danger.
When:terminal
Who Are the Main Characters in Now I’ll Tell?
5 characters, among them Murray Golden (Spencer Tracy), Virginia Golden (Helen Twelvetrees) and Peggy Warren (Alice Faye): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Murray Golden (Spencer Tracy)
Played by Spencer Tracy
An unscrupulous New York City gambler and casino operator whose motto, You’re only wrong when you fail, frames a life built on risk. He is charming and persuasive, yet relentlessly self-serving, willing to double-cross friends to win. His craving for wealth drags him deeper into crime and deceit, with devastating personal costs.
- 💰 Ambition
- 🎭 Manipulation
- 🌀 Recklessness
- VG
Virginia Golden (Helen Twelvetrees)
Played by Helen Twelvetrees
Murray's wife who demands he quit the illegal life after she extracts a promise of reform. She can be stern, protective, and resolute, using threats of leaving to steer him toward stability. Her loyalty is tested through jealousy and betrayal, and she ultimately chooses independence over a collapsing marriage.
- 💔 Loyalty
- 🗝️ Independence
- 🌪️ Resolve
- PW
Peggy Warren (Alice Faye)
Played by Alice Faye
Murray's mistress who becomes entangled in his dangerous gambling world. She navigates secrecy and manipulation, trying to hold onto affection while the plot's crimes threaten her safety. Her presence pressures the couple's marriage and accelerates the story's conflicts.
- 💖 Charm
- 🎭 Deception
- 🕰️ Consequences
- AM
Al Mossiter (Robert Gleckler)
Played by Robert Gleckler
Gangster and fixer who fixed the boxing match and later pursues his due after being double-crossed. He embodies the ruthless, calculating edge of the criminal underworld, willing to use violence to protect his interests. His actions catalyze the film's most perilous turn.
- 🔫 Crime
- 🧠 Cunning
- 💥 Brutality
-
Freddie Stanton (Hobart Cavanaugh)
Played by Hobart Cavanaugh
Murray's friend and business associate who cycles through loyalty and opportunism as the plot thickens. He operates in the same circle of deals and danger, contributing to the moral ambiguity and shifting alliances. His presence helps drive the narrative toward its darker outcomes.
- 🤝 Friendship
- 💡 Opportunism
- 🎲 Gambling
Where and When Is Now I’ll Tell Set?
Now I’ll Tell is set in New York City and Europe. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
The film's events unfold over several years, tracing a rise to power through gambles and schemes and then a long arc of consequence. It depicts a modern urban world where deals are sealed with risk, and personal loyalties are continually tested.
Where
New York City, Europe
The story unfolds primarily in New York City's casinos and nightlife, a hub for high-stakes risk and fast talk. It also spans Europe as characters travel and communicate across borders, underscoring the film's transatlantic stakes. The setting emphasizes a world where money, power, and deceit intersect in a ruthless urban landscape.
- 🗽 Urban hub
- 🎲 Gambling center
- 🌍 International travel
What Are the Themes of Now I’ll Tell?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Greed, Crime and Relationships.
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01
Greed
Greed drives Murray Golden's decisions from the start, pushing him to fix fights, promise lavish rewards, and chase profits at any cost. His vow to quit after earning $500,000 proves hollow as ambition overpowers promises. The money becomes a measure of self-worth and control, not security. The film shows how wealth can corrupt trust, ruin friendships, and fuel dangerous schemes.
-
02
Crime
From the boxing fix to the attempted kidnapping, crime threads through the plot with escalating stakes. Mossiter's murder of the fighter underscores the brutal costs of manipulation. Murray's life-insurance gambit and the high-stakes poker debt create a tangled web of deceit and peril. The narrative builds toward a fatal clash where plans unravel and violence returns to its authors.
-
03
Relationships
Marriage and loyalty are tested as Murray lies to Virginia about Peggy and her own loyalties. Virginia's decision to divorce marks the collapse of a personal bond built on a fragile foundation. Peggy's involvement and the betrayal reshape the dynamics between lovers, friends, and rivals. The final turn shows relationships as currency in a ruthless world.
What Kind of Film Is Now I’ll Tell?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A grim and gripping saga of a ruthless gambler's fatal pursuit of wealth and the personal ruin it brings, creating a tense and ultimately tragic viewing experience steeped in regret.
- cynical
- gripping
- fatalistic
- anxious
- regretful
- melancholic
- gambling
- betrayal
- moral compromise
- rise and fall
Content notes: murder, kidnapping, fatal car accident, gun violence.
Quiz
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