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Plot Summary

Intrigue (1947) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1947 · 90 mins · English
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Directed by
Edwin L. Marin
Starring
Jay C. Flippen, George Raft, Michael Ansara, Dan Seymour, Tom Tully, Charles Lane

After being dishonorably discharged from the Army Air Corps, Brad Dunham (George Raft) turns to Shanghai’s post‑war black market, partnering with the unscrupulous Tamara Baranoff (June Havoc). He quickly thrives, much to the annoyance of his friend, reporter Mark Andrews (Tom Tully). When Tamara arranges Andrews’ murder, Dunham sees the cost of his choices and vows to dismantle the illicit trade once and for all.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Intrigue
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Intrigue: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Intrigue (1947) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In post-war China, court-martialed pilot Brad Dunham George Raft now flies smuggled goods into the country. He attempts to force his immediate superior, Ramon Perez Marvin Miller to pay him more, but Perez resists, so Brad steals the cargo back.

The boss of the black-market operation is Tamara Baranoff June Havoc, who agrees to Brad's demand of a 50% cut of the operation and fires Ramon as a show of good faith. Meanwhile, an American newspaper reporter, Marc Andrews Tom Tully, a friend of Brad's, shows up in Shanghai to investigate black-market crime.

Brad meets a social worker, Linda Parker, alias Linda Arnold Helena Carter, and their friendship makes Tamara jealous. She insists that Brad do something about the prying reporter and steer clear of that other woman. Tamara's criminal rival tips off Marc that his pal Brad is involved with the crime ring.

Marc is knifed by Tamara's rival just as he is delivering a copy of his story exposing the black market. His dying wish is that Brad deliver the story for him, telling Brad that it was Tamara whose testimony led to Brad's unjust court-martial.

Brad distributes her black-market goods to needy citizens. Ramon turns up to ambush Brad, but his gun goes off, killing Tamara instead, and Ramon is placed under arrest. Brad and Linda contemplate a new life together.

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 09:48

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Plot questions answered

Intrigue Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Intrigue (1947): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why was Brad Dunham dishonorably discharged from the Army Air Corps?

Brad Dunham was dishonorably discharged after Tamara Baranoff testified against him. Marc Andrews reveals this secret to Brad moments before dying, Tamara's testimony was responsible for Brad's unjust court-martial, which forced him out of the military and into the dangerous world of post-war smuggling in Shanghai.

  • brad dunham
  • court-martial
  • tamara baranoff
  • military discharge
Q2

Why does Tamara Baranoff want Marc Andrews killed?

Tamara wants Marc dead because he is an American journalist investigating her black market operation in Shanghai. She orders Brad to stop Marc's investigation, warning him to stay away from the reporter. When Marc gets too close to exposing the criminal ring, Tamara's rival kills him to prevent the story from being published.

  • tamara baranoff
  • marc andrews
  • murder
  • journalist
  • black market
Q3

How does Tamara Baranoff die?

Tamara is killed during Ramon's ambush of Brad at the climax of the film. Ramon, the former associate whom Tamara fired to appease Brad, attempts to shoot Brad but his gun misfires, causing the bullet to strike Tamara instead. She dies as a result of this accidental shooting.

Foreshadowing: Tamara fires Ramon earlier in the film, creating the motive for his later betrayal and attack.

  • tamara death
  • ramon perez
  • ambush
  • gunshot
  • climax
Q4

What causes Brad Dunham to turn against Tamara Baranoff?

Brad turns against Tamara after Marc Andrews dies in his arms. The dying reporter asks Brad to deliver his exposé story and reveals that Tamara's testimony caused Brad's unjust court-martial. Witnessing his friend's murder and learning of Tamara's betrayal motivates Brad to dismantle the black market operation she controls.

  • brad dunham
  • betrayal
  • tamara baranoff
  • marc andrews
  • revenge
Q5

Why does Brad Dunham distribute the black market goods to citizens?

After deciding to expose Tamara's operation, Brad begins distributing the smuggled goods to needy citizens in Shanghai. This act represents his moral transformation, he uses the illegally obtained merchandise for humanitarian purposes rather than profiting from crime, showing his shift from selfish smuggler to righteous exposer of the black market.

  • brad dunham
  • charity
  • black market goods
  • redistribution
  • moral redemption
Q6

Who kills Marc Andrews?

Marc Andrews is killed by Tamara's rival in the black market operation. As Marc attempts to deliver his story exposing the criminal network, Tamara's rival attacks him with a knife, stabbing him. Marc dies shortly after reaching Brad and revealing Tamara's role in his court-martial.

  • marc andrews
  • murder
  • knife
  • black market rival
  • journalist
Q7

What does Marc Andrews reveal before he dies?

Before dying, Marc Andrews reveals two critical pieces of information to Brad. First, he asks Brad to deliver his expos exposé story to the authorities. Second, he tells Brad that it was Tamara Baranoff's testimony that led to his unjust court-martial from the Army Air Corps, revealing Tamara as the architect of Brad's downfall.

  • marc andrews
  • dying confession
  • court-martial
  • tamara testimony
  • expose
Q8

Why does Tamara Baranoff fire Ramon Perez?

Tamara fires Ramon Perez to appease Brad Dunham after Brad demands a 50% cut of the black market operation. When Brad steals back his cargo to force higher payments, Tamara chooses to side with Brad over her longtime associate Ramon. She dismisses Ramon as a show of good faith to secure Brad's continued involvement in the smuggling operation.

  • ramon perez
  • fired
  • tamara baranoff
  • brad dunham
  • black market
Q9

Why does Brad Dunham meet Linda Arnold?

Brad meets Linda Arnold, a social worker operating in Shanghai, during his time in the city. Their friendship develops as Brad is drawn to her genuine character and humanitarian work. This connection makes Tamara jealous and serves as a catalyst for Brad's eventual moral awakening, as Linda represents the honest life Brad has been missing.

  • linda arnold
  • brad dunham
  • social worker
  • relationship
  • romance
Q10

What happens to the black market operation by the film's end?

By the film's conclusion, Tamara's black market operation collapses. Brad distributes her goods to needy citizens, undermining the criminal enterprise. After Tamara is accidentally killed during Ramon's failed ambush, Ramon is arrested, and the key players in the operation are neutralized, effectively ending the crime ring.

  • black market
  • shanghai
  • operation collapsed
  • ramon arrested
  • crime ring
Q11

Why is Brad Dunham smuggling goods into Shanghai after the war?

After being dishonorably discharged from the Army Air Corps, Brad Dunham turns to smuggling as a means of survival in post-war Shanghai. He uses his piloting skills to fly smuggled goods into China, quickly thriving in the black market despite the moral compromises. His initial motivation appears to be financial gain, though his character evolves throughout the film.

  • brad dunham
  • smuggling
  • post-war
  • shanghai
  • pilot

Movie threads

More Movies Like Intrigue, by Mood & Story

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

Noirish Redemption Stories like Intrigue

Cynical characters find morality after being consumed by a corrupt world. Discover movies like Intrigue where cynical antiheroes find redemption in a corrupt underworld. These tense, morally complex crime thrillers feature protagonists who turn against their criminal pasts, leading to gritty confrontations and bittersweet endings.

  • noirish
  • cynical
  • redemption
  • tense
  • gritty
  • morally ambiguous
  • Tone: tense, cynical, morally ambiguous
  • Pacing: fast, driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories follow a straightforward arc of moral awakening. A protagonist initially thrives in a corrupt system, but a triggering event—often a personal betrayal or an act of violence against an innocent—forces a confrontation with their own complicity. The plot is driven by their subsequent quest for retribution or redemption, culminating in a final confrontation that provides a costly victory.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a tense, cynical tone and a fast-paced narrative focused on moral ambiguity. They are united by the central theme of redemption within a criminal world, featuring gritty settings, atmospheric noir stylings, and an emotional journey from moral compromise to a hard-won, bittersweet resolution.

Gritty Post-War Crime Thrillers like Intrigue

Thrillers set in the desperate, lawless aftermath of war. If you liked the setting of Intrigue, explore more movies about crime and corruption in the aftermath of war. These tense thrillers capture the desperation and moral gray areas of societies rebuilding amidst black markets and shattered ideals.

  • post-war
  • gritty
  • tense
  • crime
  • corruption
  • black market
  • Tone: tense, gritty, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are propelled by the unique conditions of a post-war environment. Characters navigate a world where traditional authority is weak, leading to power struggles over scarce resources. Plots often involve smuggling, betrayal, and a struggle for control, reflecting the broader themes of survival and the blurred lines between right and wrong in a broken world.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their distinctive post-war setting, which fuels the central conflict and defines the mood. They share a tense, gritty tone and often a fast pace, focusing on crime, corruption, and the moral compromises characters make in a desperate landscape.

If you liked this

Movies Like Intrigue

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Every angle

Intrigue (1947) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Intrigue 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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