This Time for Keeps (1942) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A man facing professional and marital uncertainty finds clarity through a failed sales scheme and a comic costume-ball misunderstanding.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

An Unwanted Career Change

Lee moves into his in-laws' home for company while his wife is away. He is persuaded to leave car sales and join the real-estate business.

Key Events

• Lee Is Left Alone — Lee is left alone while his wife is out of town. Characters: Lee White Location: Lee's home
• Move Into In-Laws' Home — Lee moves in with his in-laws for company. Characters: Lee White Location: His in-laws' home
• Career Advice — Lee is persuaded to leave car sales and enter real estate. Characters: Lee White Location: His in-laws' home
• New Real-Estate Assignment — Lee receives an assignment to sell land to Freeman. Characters: Lee White, Arthur Freeman Location: Property for sale
• Contest Entry — A family member enters a movie-theater contest for cash. Location: Movie theater

The Prize of Soap

A movie-theater contest produces an unexpected prize of 200 bars of soap. The unusual prize later becomes part of Lee's sales strategy.

Key Events

• Contest Entry — A family member enters a movie-theater contest for cash. Location: Movie theater
• Soap Prize Won — The contest prize is 200 bars of the sponsor's soap. Location: Movie theater
• Kit Returns Home — Lee's wife returns and finds him working with her father. Location: His in-laws' home
• Workplace Quarrel — Lee and his father-in-law quarrel over interference with Lee's work. Characters: Lee White Location: His in-laws' home

A Scheme That Backfires

Lee tries to use the soap to influence Arthur Freeman's view of the property. The plan fails, leaving Lee frustrated and professionally uncertain.

Key Events

• Workplace Quarrel — Lee and his father-in-law quarrel over interference with Lee's work. Characters: Lee White Location: His in-laws' home
• Soap Scheme Proposed — Lee plans to scatter soap on the property to influence Freeman. Characters: Lee White, Arthur Freeman Location: Property for sale
• Soap Scattered — Lee scatters soap across the land as part of his scheme. Characters: Lee White Location: Property for sale
• Freeman Rejects Implication — The soap tactic fails to make Freeman fear a competing buyer. Characters: Lee White, Arthur Freeman Location: Property for sale
• Sales Plan Backfires — The attempted manipulation produces the opposite result for Lee. Characters: Lee White, Arthur Freeman Location: Property for sale
• Freeman Offers Lee Work — Freeman offers Lee a job after the failed sales effort. Characters: Lee White, Arthur Freeman Location: Property for sale
• Lee Weighs The Offer — Lee considers Freeman's offer and worries about his marriage. Characters: Lee White Location: His in-laws' home

The Offer and The Doubt

Freeman responds to the failed tactic by offering Lee a job. Lee considers the offer while worrying about its effect on his marriage.

Key Events

• Lee Weighs The Offer — Lee considers Freeman's offer and worries about his marriage. Characters: Lee White Location: His in-laws' home
• Costume Ball Begins — Lee joins the family at a costume ball. Characters: Lee White Location: Costume ball

Clowns and Reconciliation

At a costume ball, Lee confuses two men dressed as clowns. The mistake helps clarify Lee's love for the family, leading to an agreement to work together.

Key Events

• Two Clown Costumes — Freeman and Harry both attend the ball dressed as clowns. Characters: Lee White, Arthur Freeman Location: Costume ball
• Lee Mixes Them Up — Lee mistakes Freeman for Harry because of their costumes. Characters: Lee White, Arthur Freeman Location: Costume ball
• Love Is Understood — The mistaken encounter helps Harry understand Lee's love for the family. Characters: Lee White Location: Costume ball
• Agreement To Cooperate — Lee and the family agree to work together more effectively. Characters: Lee White Location: Costume ball
• Second Soap Prize — The contest winner receives another 100 bars of soap. Location: Costume ball

Story Breakdown

• Lonely Household Shift — Lee changes his living arrangement while his wife is away.
  • Left Alone — Lee remains alone while his wife is out of town.
  • Seeking Company — He moves into his in-laws' home for companionship.
• New Career Direction — Lee is drawn away from car sales and into real estate.
  • Business Persuasion — He is persuaded to join the real-estate business.
  • First Assignment — Lee is asked to sell land to Arthur Freeman.
• Soap Prize Complication — An unexpected contest prize supplies the material for Lee's later idea.
  • Theater Contest — A movie-theater contest is entered in hope of winning cash.
  • Two Hundred Bars — The prize is 200 bars of sponsor's soap.
• Domestic Work Conflict — Lee's new work creates tension within the household.
  • Return Home — Lee's wife returns and sees the new business arrangement.
  • Interference Quarrel — Lee and his father-in-law quarrel about Lee's work.
• Failed Sales Strategy — Lee attempts to manipulate Freeman's expectations about the property.
  • Scatter The Soap — Soap is scattered across the property for sale.
  • Backfire — Freeman is not persuaded by the soap-company implication.
• Professional Temptation — Freeman's response gives Lee another possible career path.
  • Job Offer — Freeman offers Lee a job after the failed tactic.
  • Marital Concern — Lee considers the offer while worrying about his wife.
• Costume Ball Turning Point — A comic mistake at the ball creates emotional understanding.
  • Clown Confusion — Lee mixes up two men wearing clown costumes.
  • Love Recognized — The encounter helps clarify Lee's love for the family.
• Cooperative Ending — The family conflict eases and the story closes on another soap prize.
  • Work Together — The characters agree to cooperate more effectively.
  • Final Soap Prize — The contest winner receives another 100 bars of soap.

Directed by

Charles Reisner

Key Cast

• Ann Rutherford — Katherine 'Kit' White
• Robert Sterling — Lee White
• Guy Kibbee — Harry Bryant
• Irene Rich — Mrs. Bryant
• Virginia Weidler — Harriett Bryant