Where Do We Go from Here? (1945) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A 4F American dreams of serving in WWII but a magical three-wish gift keeps dropping him into the wrong centuries of American history.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A 4F Aspirant Finds Magic

Bill Morgan dreams of fighting in World War II but cannot enlist because he is 4F. While collecting scrap metal he discovers a brass bottle that brings him a magical offer of three wishes.

Key Events

• Bill Classified 4F — Bill Morgan cannot join World War II forces because of his 4F draft classification. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: WWII-Era American Home Front
• Scrap Metal War Work — Bill supports the war effort by collecting scrap metal instead of fighting. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Neighborhood Scrap Collection Point
• Mysterious Brass Bottle — Among the discarded junk Bill finds a strange bottle and rubs off its grime. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Discarded Scrap Site
• Three Wishes Offered — A magical wish-giver appears and promises Bill three wishes. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Discarded Scrap Site
• First Wish Spoken — Bill asks to be in the U.S. Army and vanishes in a puff of smoke. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Discarded Scrap Site

Boots in the Wrong Century

Bill's wish for army service flings him into the Continental Army during the American Revolution. After clashing with Hessian troops, he escapes by wishing into the Navy.

Key Events

• First Wish Spoken — Bill asks to be in the U.S. Army and vanishes in a puff of smoke. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Discarded Scrap Site
• Continental Army Soldier — Bill materializes as a foot soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Revolutionary War Colonial Battleground
• Run-In With Hessians — Hessian soldiers confront Bill and he must flee for safety. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Revolutionary War Battlefield
• Escape Wish Into Navy — Bill escapes by wishing himself into the U.S. Navy. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Revolutionary War Battlefield

Historic Detour With Columbus

Instead of the modern Navy Bill becomes a crewman on Christopher Columbus's first voyage. He reaches the New World and agrees to purchase Manhattan Island from a local native.

Key Events

• Aboard Columbus's Vessel — Bill is transferred onto the crew of Christopher Columbus's expedition to the New World. Characters: Bill Morgan, Christopher Columbus Location: Christopher Columbus's Ship During Maiden Voyage
• Maiden Atlantic Crossing — Bill sails westward with Columbus during the historic first crossing. Characters: Bill Morgan, Christopher Columbus Location: Columbus's Ship in the Atlantic
• Landfall in New World — The expedition comes ashore in the New World. Characters: Bill Morgan, Christopher Columbus Location: New World Shoreline

The Would-Be Island Owner

Bill is flung forward into seventeenth-century New Amsterdam where he claims to own the island. His boast leads him straight into a colonial jail until his wishes are finally corrected.

Key Events

• Manhattan Island Purchase — Bill agrees to buy Manhattan Island from a local native. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: New World Shoreline
• Leap to New Amsterdam — Bill is abruptly moved forward in time to the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: New Amsterdam, Mid-17th Century
• Claiming Island Ownership — Bill insists he owns the island, causing conflict with colonial authorities. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: New Amsterdam Settlement
• Locked in New Amsterdam Jail — Bill is thrown into jail for claiming ownership of the island. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: New Amsterdam Jail
• Right Place at Last — The magic finally works correctly and Bill lands in the right time and place. Characters: Bill Morgan Location: Correct Time and Place at Film's End

Story Breakdown

• Home-Front 4F Stalemate — Bill longs to fight but the draft rejects him, pinning him to civilian war work.
  • Barred From Enlistment — Bill's 4F status keeps him out of the U.S. armed forces in World War II.
  • Scrap Collection Duty — Bill contributes to the war effort by collecting scrap metal.
• The Enchanted Brass Bottle — A discarded bottle gives Bill access to powerful wishes that soon control his journey.
  • Bottle Found in Junk — Bill rubs a grimy brass bottle clean while gathering scrap.
  • Three-Wish Offer — A magical wish-giver appears and grants Bill three wishes.
• Army Wish Goes Awry — Bill's request for U.S. Army service sends him to war in the wrong era.
  • Continental Army Soldier — Bill becomes a foot soldier during the American Revolutionary War.
  • Hessian Encounter — Bill is confronted by Hessian troops on the battlefield.
  • Navy Escape Wish — He escapes by wishing to join the U.S. Navy.
• Voyage With Columbus — The Navy wish drops Bill onto Christopher Columbus's first expedition as a crew member.
  • Aboard Maiden Voyage — Bill serves as a sailor on Columbus's ship traveling to the New World.
  • New World Landfall — The expedition reaches shore in the Americas.
  • Manhattan Island Deal — Bill agrees to buy Manhattan Island from a local native.
• New Amsterdam Claim Fails — Bill jumps forward in time and tries to profit from his Manhattan purchase in the 1600s.
  • Whisked to the 1600s — Bill is transported ahead to mid-seventeenth-century New Amsterdam.
  • Island Ownership Boast — Bill tells authorities he already owns the island.
  • Colonial Jail Cell — Bill is thrown into jail for his claim.
• Final Wish Rescues Bill — After a series of fumbled wishes, the magic finally drops Bill into the correct moment.
  • Time-Hopping Mistake Fixed — The wish-giver at last gets the destination right.
  • Right Time and Place — Bill ends the film in the proper era and location at last.

Directed by

Gregory Ratoff

Key Cast

• Fred MacMurray — Bill Morgan
• Joan Leslie — Sally Smith / Prudence / Katrina
• June Haver — Lucilla Powell / Gretchen / Indian
• Gene Sheldon — Ali the Genie
• Anthony Quinn — Chief Badger