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Crime and Passion (1976) movie poster

Spoiler-Free Summary

Crime and Passion (1976) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

Release, runtime and language
1976 · 96 mins · English
Directed by
Ivan Passer
Starring
Karen Black, Bernhard Wicki, Volker Prechtel, Omar Sharif, Joseph Bottoms, Erich Padalewski

A corrupt financier, accustomed to cheating with money and love, pushes his mistress into marrying a wealthy industrialist to secure cash. When the new husband reveals a plot to murder both the mistress and the financier, he finds himself gambling with his own life in a deadly game of deceit and betrayal.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 What it is about
  2. 2 Is it worth watching?
  3. 3 After you watch
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Crime and Passion
  6. 6 Every angle

Spoiler-free summary · safe to read

What Is Crime and Passion About? (No Spoilers)

The plot of Crime and Passion (1976) without spoilers: what it is about, who it follows and where it takes place, told without the twists or the ending. Enough to decide whether it is your next watch, not enough to ruin it.

In the glittering yet cut‑throat world of high finance, a seasoned schemer walks a razor‑thin line between ambition and betrayal. André Ferren has built his reputation on manipulating markets and relationships, treating both money and love as interchangeable assets. When an opportunity to secure a massive influx of cash presents itself, he persuades his own mistress to marry a reclusive, affluent industrialist, hoping the union will turn profit into power. The story unfolds against a backdrop of sleek boardrooms and the stark, snow‑capped peaks of a remote Alpine enclave, where wealth feels as cold and immutable as the mountain stone.

Susan Winters is as sharp and self‑possessed as the woman who can navigate both the glitter of high society and the shadows of secret liaisons. Her partnership with André is founded on a fragile balance of affection and calculation, each aware that loyalty is a luxury they can rarely afford. Opposite them stands Hermann Rolf, a charismatic yet inscrutable magnate whose immense fortune and commanding presence have turned his private castle into a symbol of untouchable influence. The dynamics among the trio pulse with a mixture of seduction, rivalry, and a relentless pursuit of advantage, setting the tone for a game where every smile may mask a hidden agenda.

As the newly forged marriage settles into a life of opulent isolation, whispers of ulterior motives begin to surface. The industrialist’s revelations hint at a perilous scheme that could turn the carefully orchestrated plan into a high‑stakes gamble with far‑reaching consequences. Surrounded by lavish interiors, surveillance‑laden corridors, and the unforgiving Alpine wilderness, the characters find themselves caught in a web of intrigue that tests the limits of trust and ambition. The atmosphere is thick with tension, a blend of sophisticated elegance and simmering danger, leaving the audience to wonder just how far each player will go to protect—or claim—their share of the prize.

Last updated: December 04, 2025 at 18:10

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What to expect

Is Crime and Passion Worth Watching? What It Feels Like

Is it dark, sad, slow, intense or confusing? The mood of Crime and Passion (1976) in a few tags, without a word about how it ends. Each tag opens a list of movies that feel the same.

After you watch

Seen Crime and Passion? Now Read the Spoilers

Once you have watched Crime and Passion (1976), come back for the full story: the plot summary with spoilers, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning.

Movie threads

More Movies Like Crime and Passion, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Crime and Passion tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Deadly deception games like in Crime and Passion

High-stakes thrillers where characters play a fatal game of cat-and-mouse. If you liked the fatal cat-and-mouse game in Crime and Passion, you'll enjoy these movies. This section features tense thrillers where characters are trapped in a high-stakes game of deceit, facing a calculating opponent in a fight for survival. Find movies with similar paranoid vibes and deadly plots.

  • deadly game
  • paranoid
  • calculating
  • high-stakes
  • cat-and-mouse
  • deceitful
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, dark
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a protagonist, or group of protagonists, who become pawns in a meticulously orchestrated scheme by a powerful and intelligent antagonist. The plot revolves around a series of escalating challenges, betrayals, and narrow escapes, where survival depends on outthinking a ruthless opponent.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared core premise of a life-or-death game orchestrated by a manipulative force. They create a consistent mood of high-tension paranoia and feature a fast-paced, relentless series of threats that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Cynical thrillers with bittersweet endings like Crime and Passion

Stories where survival comes at a heavy moral and emotional cost. Looking for movies like Crime and Passion that end on a complex note? This collection features thrillers with bittersweet or morally ambiguous conclusions. The heroes may survive, but their victories are tarnished by loss, betrayal, or their own compromised ethics, similar to the ending of Crime and Passion.

  • bittersweet
  • cynical
  • morally gray
  • heavy
  • cost of survival
  • ambiguous victory
  • Tone: tense, bleak, morally complex
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey in these films often involves the protagonist engaging in morally questionable actions to overcome a threat. The climax resolves the immediate danger, but the aftermath highlights the collateral damage—lost lives, shattered trust, or the protagonist's own descent into the darkness they fought against. The ending focuses on the price of survival.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their emotionally heavy conclusions that subvert a purely happy ending. They share a tone of moral ambiguity and a focus on the psychological fallout of violent conflict, appealing to viewers who appreciate complex, thought-provoking resolutions.

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Movies Like Crime and Passion

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Every angle

Crime and Passion (1976) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Crime and Passion in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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