These Glamour Girls 1939

Comedy

Drama

Runtime

79 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Robert Walker

Made by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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These Glamour Girls Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for These Glamour Girls (1939). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Elite New York society gathers around a forthcoming Kingsford College house party, where the spotlight shines on the wealthy debutantes and their families. The spotlighted debutante Ann van Reichton receives an exclusive invitation, yet her mother Mrs. Van Reichton is horrified to learn that her daughter’s date, Greg Smith, does not belong to the social register. The tension between appearance and pedigree threads through every whispered conversation, as the parents parry with pride and anxiety about keeping up appearances.

In the week leading up to the weekend, Philip S. Griswold III, the son of a prestigious Wall Street family, slips away to Manhattan with his friends, Homer Ten Eyck and Greg Smith. The trio bar-hops through the city, trading barbed jokes and loud laughter, and Philip, in a drunken moment, invites the taxi dancer Jane Thomas to accompany them to the party. Jane accepts, even though the invitation hangs over her as a challenge to the rigid social order, and Philip, in a rare moment of honesty, forgets the promise he made.

Days later, the action shifts to the Kingsford train station, where Philip S. Griswold III awaits his girlfriend Carol Christy with a gleam of expectation. Instead, another arrival disrupts the scene: Jane Thomas steps off the same train, and Philip’s face waves between embarrassment and discomfort. A fellow Kingsford student, Blimpy, mistakes her for someone from the elite Philadelphia circle and asks her to be his date, a request that underscores the fragile wall between social classes. When Blimpy discovers Jane’s farm-born background, he quickly withdraws, while Philip, torn between surfaces and feelings, asks Jane to stay. The two share a dance as Carol Christy dances with Joe, a bright but poorer student from a working-class family, setting up a quiet clash of ambitions and loyalties.

In a sharp turn of social politics, the manipulative Daphne Graves Daphne Graves steers Phil and Carol toward an engagement announcement. The plan unsettles both Jane and Joe, who leave the gathering with a mix of hurt and clarity about what they want from life. The party atmosphere strains under the weight of rumor and expectation, and underneath the glitter, a deeper fear persists: the fear that love might threaten the carefully curated future these families have earned through status and wealth.

Meanwhile, Betty Ainsbridge Betty Ainsbridge, a twenty-year-old debutante, overhears her younger peers mock her as if she’s past her prime for marriage. She attempts to seize a match by pressing a drunken Homer Ten Eyck Homer Ten Eyck into marrying her. Homer recoils when he sobers, and the social snare tightens around her. In the aftermath, a despondent Betty drives toward escape, parking her car on railroad tracks where a train ends her pain. The tragedy shocks the party and crystallizes the harsh truth that social games can mask real heartbreak.

As the dust settles, Philip Griswold’s world begins to crack. His father, Philip S. Griswold II, is indicted for fraud, a scandal that shatters the family’s carefully crafted image and pressure Phil to reassess the emptiness of surface values. The scandal also intensifies Phil’s introspection about love and loyalty, and it pushes him to confront what truly matters. In the end, the story threads together a difficult, hopeful realization: genuine connection—especially the bond between Phil and Jane Thomas—offers a sturdier path than the pretenses of high society.

These Glamour Girls Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of These Glamour Girls (1939) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Elite social circle plans the Kingsford party

Members of New York's social register discuss the forthcoming Kingsford College house party. Ann van Reichton is invited, but her mother is horrified that her date Greg is not in the social register. The scene exposes the superficial standards that govern their world.

Days before the party Manhattan, NY (social circuit)

Philip Griswold and friends head to Manhattan

Philip Griswold and his friends visit bars in Manhattan, where Philip gets drunk and impulsively invites Jane, a taxi dancer from Kansas, to attend the party. Jane accepts the invitation, even though Philip forgets about it later. The act foreshadows the clash between social classes at the event.

Weekend before the party Manhattan bars

Jane arrives at Kingsford station and meets Philip

Days later, Philip waits for his girlfriend Carol at Kingsford train station, only to find Jane arriving on the same train. He is publicly embarrassed by her presence among the elites. Jane's unexpected arrival unsettles the party dynamics from the start.

The day Jane arrives Kingsford train station

Blimpy mistakes Jane for an elite socialite

Blimpy, a fellow Kingsford student, mistakes Jane for a member of the elite Philadelphia social circle and asks her to be his date to the party. When he discovers she is not from that world, he rebukes her. The moment highlights the rigid class distinctions in play.

Soon after Jane's arrival Kingsford campus/party venue

Phil invites Jane to stay and they dance

A remorseful Phil asks Jane to stay, and the two share a dance at the party. Meanwhile Carol dances with Joe, a working-class student, underscoring the class contrasts among the debs. The moment deepens the personal connections beyond social labels.

During the party Kingsford College party

Carol confesses motive to Joe

Carol confesses to Joe that she is dating Phil partly to secure financial stability after her family fortune has been lost. Joe grapples with mixed emotions as he weighs affection against economic realities. The exchange reveals the pragmatic pressures behind relationships in the circle.

During the party Kingsford party venue

Daphne Graves engineers an engagement announcement

The following morning, Daphne Graves manipulates Phil and Carol into announcing their engagement. The move exposes Daphne's cruel streak and unsettles the delicate balance of the party's social power. Jane and Joe watch the scheme unfold with growing dismay.

The following morning Kingsford party grounds

Jane and Joe depart in protest

Jane and Joe leave the gathering together after the engagement announcement, disheartened by the mockery of genuine connection. Their exit underscores the clash between authenticity and performative social rituals. The moment signals a turning point in the social drama.

The morning after the announcement Kingsford party

Betty Ainsbrudge confronts aging debutante anxiety

Betty Ainsbrudge overhears younger debutantes joking about her being too old to marry. She resolves to secure a husband, exposing the insecurities that haunt the older side of the social circle. The moment crystallizes the pressure to conform to youth and marriage norms.

During the party Kingsford College party

Homer reluctantly agrees to marry Betty, then backs out

Homer, intoxicated, initially agrees to marry Betty. Once sober, he withdraws his offer, leaving Betty crushed by the collapse of her plan. The scene highlights the volatility of impulsive decisions within the party environment.

The party evening Kingsford party locale

Betty's suicide marks a grim turn

Despondent over her prospects and the cruelty of the social scene, Betty drives to railroad tracks and allows a train to strike her. The tragedy underscores the extreme costs of superficial social standards. It serves as a stark counterpoint to the party's glittering veneer.

The following day Railroad tracks

Phil's family reputation is tarnished; a personal revelation follows

After the party, Phil's father is indicted for fraud, tarnishing the family's reputation and forcing Phil to reassess his values. He ultimately recognizes his love for Jane, choosing authenticity over status. The arc closes with a shift away from superficialities toward genuine connection.

After the party New York / family estate and court

These Glamour Girls Characters

Explore all characters from These Glamour Girls (1939). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Jane Thomas (Lana Turner)

A taxi dancer from Kansas who is swept into Kingsford’s elite circles. She confronts class prejudice and navigates a party world built on appearances, showing resilience in the face of social judgment. Her growing connection with Phil tests the boundaries of wealth and virtue.

🎭 Debutante 💃 Dancer 🧭 Outsider

Philip S. Griswold III (Lew Ayres)

Son of a prestigious Wall Street stockbroker; handsome but shallow, chasing status and social approval. He invites Jane to the party and pursues connections that preserve his social standing. As events unfold, he begins to question his values and faces the impact of his family’s tarnished reputation.

🎭 Elite Heir 💎 Wealth 🗽 Status-Seeker

Joe (Richard Carlson)

One of the college’s poorest students who forms a genuine bond with Carol. From a working-class background, he confronts social prejudice and economic insecurity. His relationship with Carol contrasts with the party’s veneer of wealth, emphasizing authentic emotion over status.

🧑‍🎓 Working Class 💵 Economic Struggle ❤️ Real Love

Carol Christy (Jane Bryan)

Daughter of a family whose fortune is fading; she contemplates securing stability by dating Phil. Her pragmatic approach creates tension with Jane and reveals the moral compromises tied to social advantage. The arc highlights how money shapes romantic choices in a glamorous society.

🎭 Debutante 💼 Pragmatic 🏛 Family Fortune

Betty Ainsbridge (Marsha Hunt)

An older debutante anxious about aging out of the marriage market. She schemes to marry for security, feeling the pressure of social expectations. Her subsequent tragedy underscores the brutal consequences of a rigid glamor culture.

🎓 Aging Debutante ⏳ Social Pressure 😢 Tragedy

Daphne Graves (Anita Louise)

Cruel and manipulative debutante who drives others toward social schemes for personal gain. She embodies the mercenary mindset of the elite and uses influence to shape relationships in the circle.

🎭 Cruel Debutante 🧭 Ambition 🪞 Social Manipulation

Homer Ten Eyck (Tom Brown)

A younger student who becomes entangled in Betty’s plan to marry for security. He initially agrees to the idea while drunk but ultimately refuses once sober, illustrating the volatility of the circle’s attitudes toward commitment.

👨‍🎓 Student 🕊️ Indecision 💔 Unfulfilled

These Glamour Girls Settings

Learn where and when These Glamour Girls (1939) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Kingsford College, Manhattan

These Glamour Girls unfolds around the prestigious Kingsford College in Manhattan, where debutantes and their families track social standing through lavish parties. The city backdrop includes bars, train stations, and exclusive gatherings that test loyalty and values. The story uses the party circuit of New York high society to reveal the glamour and pressure of climbing the social ladder.

🎭 Elite Society 💎 Wealth & Status 🗽 New York Setting

These Glamour Girls Themes

Discover the main themes in These Glamour Girls (1939). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💎

Wealth & Status

An elite social circle polices who belongs and who doesn’t, measuring worth by family fortune and debutante lineage. The party at Kingsford exposes how appearances mask insecurity and moral compromise. Characters chase invitations and marriages to sustain or elevate their social standing, revealing the emptiness of valuing status over genuine connection.

❤️

Love vs Wealth

Romantic relationships are tested by money and social ambition. Phil’s pursuit of Jane pits love against prestige, while Carol’s plan to marry for financial security shows how money distorts affection. Jane’s integrity contrasts with a world where affection is secondary to status, leading to a reevaluation of true love.

🎭

Appearance vs Reality

The film presents a glittering surface of debutantes and parties while hiding insecurity and ulterior motives. Reputations are built on curated appearances rather than authentic character. Characters are judged by outward markers of success, highlighting the difference between image and inner virtue.

😔

Tragedy & Morality

The narrative exposes the cruel side of social competition, culminating in Betty’s suicide as a grim consequence of pressure and mockery. The tale invites reflection on the cost of glamour and the moral compromises made for acceptance. The conclusion prompts a difficult reconsideration of values within the elite circle.

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These Glamour Girls Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of These Glamour Girls (1939). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

At the elite Kingsford College, where society’s upper crust sends their sons and daughters to mingle within carefully drawn circles, appearance is everything. The annual house party promises to be the social event of the season, drawing wealthy debutantes and their families into a whirlwind of whispered conversations and calculated introductions. Philip S. Griswold III, scion of a prestigious Wall Street family, navigates this world with the easy confidence of someone who has never questioned his place in it—until a single impulsive gesture threatens to upend the entire affair.

During a night of bar-hopping through Manhattan, Philip and his friends find themselves in a dance hall where working-class women earn their living as paid dancing partners. In a moment of drunken bravado, Philip invites Jane Thomas, a taxi dancer of farm-born roots, to accompany him to the exclusive campus gathering. The invitation hangs in the air—a challenge to the rigid social order that governs their world—and Jane, recognizing an opportunity disguised as an insult, accepts.

What unfolds is a clash of cultures and expectations as Jane steps off the train at Kingsford station, forcing Philip to confront the consequences of his careless promise. The party becomes a stage for unspoken tensions, where society girls measure their worth against potential suitors, and those on the margins watch the intricate dance of wealth and privilege with sharpened eyes. As the weekend progresses, the gilded surface of high society begins to show cracks, revealing that even the most carefully curated lives harbor uncertainties, fears, and desires that no social register can protect against.

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