Washington Melodrama 1941
Directed by
S. Sylvan Simon
Made by
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Washington Melodrama Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Washington Melodrama (1941). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Calvin Claymore, Frank Morgan is a respected Washington industrialist turned philanthropist in 1941, passionately backing a Senate bill to feed the starving children of war-torn Europe. He faces stiff opposition from the sharp-tongued newspaper publisher, Hal Thorne, a man who fears the aid could be hijacked by fascist militaries and used for political leverage.
One draining evening after a grueling committee meeting, Claymore receives a doleful call from his wife, informing him that instead of returning home, she and their daughter Laurie Claymore, Ann Rutherford, will extend their globe-trotting for several more months. Heartsick, he tries to retreat to the quiet of his home, a ritual of solace that his secretary interrupts by coaxing a high-spirited U.S. Senator to join him at a surprisingly frisky nightclub. There, Claymore meets the very attractive Mary Morgan, Anne Gwynne, a performer in an entertainment troupe that blends dance and water ballet. He is a gentleman throughout the evening, and as the night ends he asks if he might see her again. Mary agrees, and the two innocently spend a summer wandering through the capital’s sights and public highlights, sharing conversations that reveal a warmth and companionship Claymore has been longing for.
As the season drawing to a close and the moment of his wife and daughter’s return approaches, Claymore visits Mary at her apartment. He leaves behind a warm note and several thousand dollars, insisting she use it to enjoy some of the nice things in life she has spoken of. Mary, though moved by the generous gesture, vows to return the money. Unbeknownst to them, Whitney King, the nightclub’s MC, has his own troubling agenda. Whitney, Dan Dailey, operates a coercive scheme aimed at keeping his “girls” hooked on wealthy patrons, a scheme that quickly turns deadly when he tries to force Mary to surrender the cash.
In the aftermath, a hunting-for-sin narrative erupts as Mary’s money and an incriminating note are found in a search of her apartment, and Whitney King becomes the target of Claymore’s blackmail to avoid scandal. Claymore’s return home is shadowed by the renewed relationship between Laurie and her would-be fiancé, Hal Thorne, stirring old political tensions as the two clash over the fate of the aid bill.
The plot thickens when a glove Claymore wore the night of Mary’s death is unearthed by one of Thorne’s reporters, triggering a fevered pursuit by the district attorney and the press to pin the crime on Claymore. Thorne uses the press as a tool to rally public opinion, even as the District Attorney Donnelly, Douglass Dumbrille, closes in. In a bid to shield Claymore, Thorne conspires to hide the incriminating glove, testing loyalties and political lines.
Laurie, ever the determined daughter, episodes a daring moment by posing as a cosmopolitan French coquette and slipping into King’s orbit, joining a dangerous game that also draws in Teddy Carlyle, Virginia Grey, a jealous dancer who is both Teddy and King’s partner. The night escalates when Teddy discovers the liaison, and King, in a fit of rage, shoots Teddy. Teddy survives only long enough to place the blame and name King as Mary’s murderer on her deathbed, a confession that shifts the investigation’s trajectory.
The next morning, Claymore takes the stand to testify before the Senate in support of his charitable plan, while the family stands united behind him. In a hard-won moment of reconciliation, father and future son-in-law (Laurie’s fiancé) clasp hands, though the battle over the bill continues in spirit. The film closes on a note of resolve: despite the personal cost and political battles, the Claymore family remains committed to pursuing relief for Europe’s children, united by love, duty, and a shared conviction to push the cause forward.
Washington Melodrama Timeline
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Claymore champions the aid bill in Washington
In 1941, Calvin Claymore pushes a Senate bill to feed the starving children of war-torn Europe, presenting it as a moral crusade. He faces fierce political opposition from Hal Thorne, a brash newspaper publisher who warns the aid could be hijacked by fascist militaries. The clash sets the political stakes for the entire story.
Lonely retreat interrupted by an invitation to a nightclub
After a draining committee session, Claymore seeks quiet at home, hoping to retreat from the public glare. His well-meaning secretary intervenes, nudging him toward an unusually lively Washington nightclub. The evening marks the start of a personal detour from his public mission.
Chance encounter with Mary Morgan in the club
Claymore meets Mary Morgan, an attractive dancer, and keeps his gentlemanly instinct intact as he asks to see her again. They share light, friendly conversation that hints at a growing connection beyond a casual encounter. The meeting foreshadows a summer romance.
Summer romance and the farewell note
Claymore and Mary spend a carefree summer exploring the capital and its splendors. When he learns his wife and daughter will return soon, he leaves Mary a warm note with several thousand dollars so she can enjoy life’s luxuries. She refuses to accept the money, torn between gratitude and independence.
Extortion turns deadly
Nightclub impresario Whitney King attempts to coerce Mary into surrendering the cash. In the struggle, he accidentally knocks her into the fireplace, killing her. He then discovers the money and the incriminating note, realizing he now has leverage over Claymore.
King uses the murder to blackmail Claymore
With the note and money in hand, King pressures Claymore to keep quiet and protect his public image and the aid bill. Claymore pays a heavy price to avoid scandal that could derail the charity program for Europe’s children. The personal threat becomes a political weapon.
Family returns; Laurie’s engagement to Thorne
Claymore’s wife and daughter Laurie return home and discover Laurie is again involved with Hal Thorne. Though Claymore tentatively accepts the engagement, the renewed romance immediately rekindles friction over the aid proposal. The family dynamics become part of the wider political battle.
The glove mystery surfaces
One of Claymore’s gloves worn to Mary’s apartment reappears, set against a wider search for the other glove and its owner. Thorne’s newspaper drums up the murder investigation, pushing public panic and press attention toward the D.A.’s office. The glove becomes the central clue in a looming scandal.
Claymore confesses; rallying behind the bill
Claymore admits to his wife and daughter that his summer dalliance was a private lapse, while insisting on his innocence in Mary’s death. The family resolves to support his cause, even as the D.A. closes in on the murder link and the political pressure intensifies. The aid bill remains a rallying point for their unity.
Thorne and Claymore join forces to hide the glove
Seeing the investigation threaten Claymore, Thorne sets aside political differences to help conceal the incriminating glove from the prosecutor. Their uneasy alliance buys Claymore time to secure support for the aid bill while the public narrative is manipulated.
Laurie goes undercover; intrigue grows
Laurie adopts the persona of an adventurous French coquette and becomes entangled with Whitney King in order to learn the truth. She and King navigate a dangerous dynamic, trading information as the investigation tightens around both their fates. The operation heightens risk for all involved.
Teddy Carlyle's jealousy; Laurie is targeted
Teddy Carlyle, King’s jealous girlfriend and Laurie’s dance partner, reacts with rage when she discovers the liaison. King uses the volatility to his advantage, trying to protect his own secrets while Laurie presses for truth. The situation sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation.
Laurie is shot and goes to the hospital
In a surge of violence, King shoots Laurie after she threatens to expose him. She is rushed to the hospital, where she initially resists the D.A. and others but remains determined to see justice done. Her resilience fuels the push to reveal King’s guilt.
Laurie’s final confession and the Senate moment
From her hospital bed, Laurie relents and names Whitney King as Mary’s murderer, offering crucial testimony that could derail the villain’s plan. The next morning, Calvin Claymore prepares to testify before the Senate in support of the aid bill. The family reconciles and stands by him as they continue to fight for the cause.
Closing: a united front, but the bill remains contested
The family is triumphant in their reunion, yet the public battle over the aid bill persists. Claymore and Thorne exchange wary but respectful glances as they remain foes yet allies in a common cause. The film ends on a note of sacrifice, duty, and the ongoing struggle for Europe’s children.
Washington Melodrama Characters
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Calvin Claymore (Frank Morgan)
A prominent Washington industrialist turned philanthropist, he drives a Senate bill to feed Europe’s starving children. He remains courteous and principled even as the pressure mounts from rivals and the press. His public integrity is tested by a private dalliance and the fear of scandal derailing the aid mission.
Laurie Claymore (Ann Rutherford)
Calvin’s daughter, caught between family duty and personal loyalties. She quietly supports her father while navigating a complicated relationship between him and his political rival. Her investigative instincts surface as she helps uncover the truth and keeps her family from imploding.
Hal Thorne (Kent Taylor)
A brash newspaper publisher and political antagonist who weaponizes publicity to advance his agenda. He hounds Claymore with relentless scrutiny and uses the murder investigation to pressure the senator. Despite his antagonism, he proves a calculating, determined rival who can’t be ignored.
Mary Morgan (Anne Gwynne)
A young dancer from an entertainment troupe who befriends Calvin during a summer in the capital. She embodies innocence and dreams of a better life, a dream tragically cut short by extortion and murder. Her actions and the note she receives influence the political and legal drama surrounding the aid bill.
Whitney King (Dan Dailey)
The nightclub MC who uses charm to lure wealthy men into a web of extortion. He becomes the central antagonist through whose actions the murder unfolds. His calculated moves and fear of exposure push the plot toward a devastating confrontation.
Teddy Carlyle (Virginia Grey)
A jealous dancer and partner of Mary who reacts with rage when rivalries spill into danger. Her jealousy fuels the tension surrounding the summer romance and the murder investigation. She adds emotional volatility to the story’s political and criminal stakes.
Elizabeth Claymore (Fay Holden)
Calvin’s wife, returning home as the family faces a public crisis. She supports her husband while wrestling with the implications of his secret. Her presence quietly anchors the family’s resolve as the aid bill’s fate unfolds.
Sen. Morton (Thurston Hall)
A seasoned senator who plays a crucial role in steering the aid proposal through the legislative maze. He represents political alignment with Claymore and the delicate balance between ideology and public good. His involvement highlights the complexity of governance during a national crisis.
District Attorney Donnelly (Douglass Dumbrille)
The prosecutor closing in on the murder case, determined to uncover the truth while navigating political pressures. His pursuit shapes the investigation and tests his own sense of justice. He becomes a pivotal figure whose decisions influence the suspenseful climax.
Washington Melodrama Settings
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Time period
1941
The story occurs in 1941, a year of uneasy peace as Europe faces war and American debates about relief and aid intensify. The political climate blends fundraising drives with media scrutiny, shaping how leaders respond to global crises. This backdrop heightens the stakes for public figures who must balance principle with public image.
Location
Washington, D.C., Nightclub, Mary's Apartment
Set in Washington, D.C., the film unfolds across political chambers, a flamboyant nightclub, and a private apartment. It captures the capital’s mix of power, glamour, and danger during a tense pre-war year. The city’s venues reflect the era’s public interest in charity, scandal, and private longing.
Washington Melodrama Themes
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Duty vs Scandal
Calvin Claymore’s public charity work tests the line between private indiscretion and public service. The threat of scandal endangers the very reform he champions to feed children in Europe. The narrative uses this tension to explore whether noble aims can survive political exposure and personal compromises. loyalty to a cause competes with the pressure to protect reputation.
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Media Power
The press drives investigation and public perception, wielding influence over political outcomes. Thorne’s newspaper crusade demonstrates how reporting can shield or ruin a figure depending on who controls the narrative. The plot shows the dual edge of journalism in a democracy, especially when humanitarian goals hang in the balance. Media pressure becomes a pivotal force in the campaign for aid.
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Wealth and Influence
Wealth funds philanthropic projects while also fueling political leverage and personal risk. The film exposes how money can advance a noble cause yet invite coercion, extortion, and moral compromise. The tension between generosity and power drives the drama and tests the characters’ loyalties. It asks whether wealth can be a force for good without corrupting the moral purpose of aid.
Washington Melodrama Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the early summer of 1941, Washington’s marble corridors pulse with the weight of global conflict and a city on the cusp of change. The capital’s grand ballroom gatherings and smoky night‑clubs coexist with heated Senate chambers, while newspapers battle over the fate of a humanitarian aid bill aimed at starving children across war‑torn Europe. The atmosphere is a blend of polished optimism and an undercurrent of political tension, a stage where personal ambition and public duty constantly collide.
Calvin Claymore, an elderly industrialist‑turned philanthropist, has spent his life balancing the demands of empire with a genuine desire to make a difference. Recently widowed by duty as his wife and daughter embark on an extended world tour, he finds his routine quietly fraying. A seasoned senator and an eager secretary coax him toward a night out, promising a brief escape from the relentless grind of committees and fundraising galas.
That evening leads him into a glittering night‑club where he encounters Mary Morgan, a charismatic performer whose water‑ballet act dazzles the crowd. Their conversation is effortless, offering Claymore a glimpse of companionship he has not felt in years. The night feels like a harmless diversion—a chance to savor music, laughter, and the simple pleasure of being seen as a guest rather than a figure of authority.
Yet the evening’s easy charm hints at something darker lurking beneath the surface. A sudden, unexpected turn draws Claymore into a web of intrigue that threatens to expose him to forces far more relentless than any political opponent. As the city’s lights flicker and the night deepens, he must navigate a delicate balance between preserving his reputation and confronting the unsettling reality that his brief reprieve may have opened a door that cannot easily be shut.
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