That Uncertain Feeling 1941

Comedy

Romance

Runtime

84 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Ernst Lubitsch

Made by

Ernst Lubitsch Productions

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That Uncertain Feeling Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for That Uncertain Feeling (1941). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Jill Baker, Merle Oberon, visits psychoanalyst Dr. Vengard Alan Mowbray for her intermittent hiccups, which flare when she feels nervous or irritated, and that visit soon nudges her to question the happiness of her marriage to her business executive husband Larry Baker Melvyn Douglas. In Dr. Vengard’s waiting room one day, Jill encounters a highly distinctive pianist, Alexander Sebastian Burgess Meredith, who believes he performs best for a single listener but struggles to shine in front of a crowd. The unexpected connection between Jill and Sebastian grows as she invites him to a pivotal dinner intended for Larry’s prospective insurance buyers, a gathering that promises to reveal the difference between appearances and real affection.

Larry quickly senses Jill’s fascination with Sebastian, prompting him to offer a friendly divorce, with the proceedings handled by a lawyer named Jones Harry Davenport and his secretary Sally Aikens Eve Arden. Jill becomes engaged to Sebastian, yet a troubling realization surfaces: Larry is seeing another woman, and Jill discovers that her own feelings still lean toward her ex-husband. She goes to his apartment to work toward reconciliation, but Larry turns the room into a stage, speaking aloud about Sally as if she were present and his girlfriend, a deception that Sally herself interrupts when she enters the apartment. The moment exposes the ruse and the underlying tensions between the two, leaving Jill torn between renewal and reluctance.

In the aftermath, Jill and Larry decide to reunite, and their bond steadies the shaky ground they’ve walked on. The hiccups that began as a quirky symptom of nerves finally vanish for good, leaving Jill with a sense of resolution. Meanwhile, a clearly disappointed Alexander collects his things and exits, his bold, solitary artistry unresolved but understood as a catalyst for the emotional twists that led to this uneasy reconciliation.

That Uncertain Feeling Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of That Uncertain Feeling (1941) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Jill seeks help for hiccups

Jill Baker, troubled by intermittent hiccups that appear when she is nervous or irritated, visits psychoanalyst Dr. Vengard at the suggestion of a friend. The session hints that her previously happy marriage may conceal deeper tensions. Dr. Vengard's questioning begins to reveal how Jill's emotions are affecting her physical symptoms.

Dr. Vengard's office

Jill meets the pianist Alexander Sebastian

In the waiting room, Jill meets Alexander Sebastian, a very odd and individualistic pianist. He believes he is the best in the world when playing for a single listener, yet he struggles to perform before a large audience. The encounter sparks mutual curiosity and a fragile attraction between them.

Dr. Vengard's waiting room

Sebastian explains his one-listener philosophy

Sebastian explains his paradox: he thinks he is at his best when there is only one listener, yet crowds derail him. Jill is drawn to both his talent and his vulnerability, which challenges her comfortable view of her life. Their conversation foreshadows the emotional upheaval to come.

Dr. Vengard's waiting room

Jill invites Sebastian to a dinner for Larry's clients

Jill invites Alexander to an important dinner arranged for Larry's prospective insurance buyers. The invitation pulls him into Jill's orbit and begins to complicate her marriage as she balances desire with loyalty. The dinner sets the stage for the mounting conflict between Jill, Larry, and Sebastian.

Jill's home

Larry discovers Jill's feelings and offers a divorce

When Larry realizes Jill is infatuated with Sebastian, he offers a friendly divorce. He is represented by a lawyer named Jones, whose secretary is Sally Aikens. This development introduces new tensions and reshapes the couple's future.

Larry's office

Jill becomes engaged to Sebastian

Jill becomes engaged to Sebastian, signaling a serious commitment to the pianist. She remains unsettled by thoughts of Larry and what she might be losing. The engagement heightens the emotional stakes for all involved.

Sebastian's residence

Larry dates another woman; Jill realizes her love for Larry endures

Larry begins seeing another attractive woman, which makes Jill realize that she still loves her ex-husband. This realization complicates her engagement and pushes her toward reconsidering her choices. The love triangle deepens as loyalties clash.

Larry's apartment

Larry's deception in the apartment

To test Jill's reaction, Larry goes into the next room and loudly pretends that Sally Aikens is in the apartment with him as his girlfriend. The ruse reveals the fragility of his current relationship and sets up the upcoming confrontation. Jill watches the deceit unfold with growing unease.

Larry's apartment

Sally Aikens reveals the deception

Sally unexpectedly enters the apartment, exposing Larry's deception. The moment forces Jill to confront the truth about his feelings and the precariousness of the arranged relationships. The tension between loyalty and desire comes to a head.

Larry's apartment

Jill and Larry reconcile; hiccups vanish

Jill and Larry decide to give their marriage another try, healing their bond through renewed commitment. In a symbolic turn, Jill's hiccups vanish forever, suggesting a resolution of the underlying anxiety that plagued her. The couple's reconciliation marks a definitive ending to the immediate conflict.

Jill's home

Alexander leaves the scene

A disgruntled Alexander gathers his belongings and leaves. His dream of being the world's best pianist for a single listener is unsettled by Jill and Larry's reconciliation, closing his arc for the moment. The departure underscores the consequences of the love triangle on individual ambitions.

Dinner venue

That Uncertain Feeling Characters

Explore all characters from That Uncertain Feeling (1941). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Jill Baker (Merle Oberon)

Elegant, anxious wife whose intermittent hiccups reveal inner nervousness about her marriage. She experiences a potent attraction to the pianist Alexander Sebastian, which challenges her commitment to Larry. Her journey oscillates between longing and loyalty, ultimately leading to reconciliation with her husband. Her hiccups serve as a tangible symbol of emotional tension rather than a medical problem.

💖 Romance 🧠 Neurotic 💍 Wife

Alexander Sebastian (Burgess Meredith)

A very odd, self-assured pianist who believes he performs best for a single listener but cannot perform before a large audience. His relationship with Jill is defined by charm and fragility; he longs to be special to someone, yet cannot sustain a public performance. He becomes the catalyst for Jill's introspection and the subsequent strain on her marriage. By film's end, he leaves with his belongings, unable to win Jill's commitment.

🎹 Musician 🌀 Eccentric 💔 Unfulfilled love

Larry Baker (Melvyn Douglas)

Jill's business executive husband who seeks a stable, happy marriage. He initially agrees to a friendly divorce when he suspects Jill's infatuation, using calculated social tactics to test their bond. He ultimately recognizes that Jill still loves him and agrees to reconcile. His actions reveal a practical mind grappling with romantic insecurity.

💼 Businessman 💔 Infidelity 🧠 Rational

Dr. Vengard (Alan Mowbray)

A psychoanalyst whose sessions with Jill frame the central introspection about marriage and desire. He provokes Jill to question the happiness she believed she had, setting the plot in motion. His presence anchors the film’s exploration of inner life versus outward behavior.

🧠 Psychotherapist 🪞 Insightful

Jones (Harry Davenport)

A lawyer who represents Larry in the divorce proceedings; his social circle includes Jill and the other characters. He plays a supporting role in the couple's negotiation and deception, helping to move events along.

⚖️ Lawyer 🕵️ Foil

Sally Aikens (Eve Arden)

Jones's secretary who is briefly at the center of the deception and social intrigue; Her presence highlights how misconceptions circulate in the couple's orbit. She becomes part of the performance of relationships within the circle.

💼 Secretary 💘 Potential love interest

Albert (Richard Carle)

A minor figure in the film's social circle; part of the dinner party and the surrounding scene.

👥 Supporting

Kafka (Sig Ruman)

A minor, idiosyncratic character in the social world around the psychologist; appears as part of the film's ensemble.

🎭 Supporting

That Uncertain Feeling Settings

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Location

Dr. Vengard's waiting room, Larry's apartment

The story unfolds across a psychiatrist's waiting room and a middle-class urban apartment. Jill's visits to Dr. Vengard set the stage for introspection and doubt about her marriage. Larry's apartment becomes the focal point for confrontations, reconciliations, and the couple's fragile balance between desire and commitment.

🏥 Psychoanalytic setting 🏠 Domestic space

That Uncertain Feeling Themes

Discover the main themes in That Uncertain Feeling (1941). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💖

Love & Loyalty

Jill’s pull between her husband Larry and pianist Alexander tests the boundaries of marriage. The hiccup motif signals nervous longing more than illness, turning personal chemistry into a moral crossroads. The film weighs stability against passion as Jill weighs what she truly wants. In the end, commitment and forgiveness prevail, restoring the relationship.

🎭

Performance Anxiety

Alexander Sebastian defines himself as the best for a single listener, yet cannot perform before a crowd, mirroring the characters' private vs public personas. The dinner and social maneuvers reveal how people perform in relationships as well as on stage. The tension between appearance and reality drives the humor and the drama. The film uses performance to explore how fear shapes love and choices.

🔍

Truth & Perception

Misunderstandings and strategic misdirections propel the plot as Jill questions what she sees and what she feels. Larry’s deception, and Jill’s longing, blur the line between honesty and self-protective illusion. The narrative suggests that truth emerges through intimate confrontation, not through appearances. The uncertain feeling of the title arises from not knowing who to trust in love.

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That Uncertain Feeling Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of That Uncertain Feeling (1941). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

For Jill Baker, a persistent case of the hiccups serves as a mysterious signal that something is amiss in her seemingly contented life. Seeking a remedy for this nervous affliction, she visits Dr. Vengard, a psychoanalyst whose probing approach does more than address her symptoms—it begins to unravel her certainty about her marriage. What starts as a medical consultation soon evolves into a complicated introspection, causing Jill to question the stability and happiness she shares with her business executive husband, Larry Baker.

In the doctor’s waiting room, a chance encounter with Alexander Sebastian, a pianist of intense demeanor and solitary habits, adds a layer of intrigue to Jill’s growing confusion. Sebastian’s unique outlook and artistic temperament stand in sharp contrast to Larry’s pragmatic world, presenting Jill with a compelling alternative to her domestic routine. As the connection between Jill and the pianist deepens, the lines between genuine marital dissatisfaction and manufactured doubt become increasingly difficult to distinguish, setting the stage for a clash of values and affections.

The film navigates the delicate nuances of romance and neurosis, balancing lighthearted sophistication with the underlying tension of a relationship in flux. As Jill wrestles with her diagnosis and her heart, the story captures the unpredictability of human emotion against a backdrop of high society and artistic ambition. With her hiccups acting as a whimsical barometer for her internal state, Jill finds herself at a crossroads where she must determine whether her restlessness is a symptom of a larger problem or simply a passing fancy.

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