No Place to Hide

No Place to Hide

Year: 1973

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Allen Schnitzer

ThrillerDramaCrime

Set in late‑1960s New York, a politically driven student collective plots to bomb the offices of corporations that profit from dictators in Central American nations. Their plan leads them to enlist a notorious terrorist and bomb‑making expert, drawing the FBI into a chase, while the members wrestle with personal loyalties and romance.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – No Place to Hide (1973)

Explore the full timeline and setting of No Place to Hide (1973). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

October 1969

The film is set in October 1969, a tense period of anti-war activism and radical movements in the United States. The timeframe features colliding ideals of peace activism, government surveillance, and domestic terrorism, all unfolding within a city that seems to pulse with risk and conspiracy.

Location

New York City, Washington, D.C.

New York City serves as the primary backdrop, with action unfolding across its harbor, warehouse district, and corporate offices. The story also touches Washington, D.C., where FBI operations and political intrigue intersect with domestic spying concerns. The urban environment reflects a volatile late-1960s atmosphere of protest and clandestine operations.

🗽 Urban setting 🕰️ 1960s era

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:31

Main Characters – No Place to Hide (1973)

Meet the key characters of No Place to Hide (1973), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jerry Savage (Sylvester Stallone)

An idealistic anti-war activist willing to take extreme measures to force political change. He believes the public must understand the reasons behind violence, and he remains stubbornly committed to his mission even when it risks others' lives.

🧭 Idealist 💥 Radical 🎯 Determined

Laurie Fisher (Rebecca Grimes)

A gentle, peace-seeking jewelry designer who provides emotional counterbalance to Jerry’s fanaticism. She believes love and inner peace can transform the world, offering a humane perspective to the campaign’s grim tactics.

💎 Jewelry designer 🕊️ Peace-seeker 💫 Idealist

Marlena St. James (Barbara Lee Govan)

The notorious bomber known as Miss M or The Black Bomber. Dedicated to the cause, she guides the operation with a stark pragmatism and is prepared to sacrifice herself for the mission.

💣 Bomber 🕶️ Enigmatic

Estelle Ferguson (Vickie Lancaster)

A dancer who becomes entangled in the bomb plot, collecting dynamite and mentoring others on detonation. She is seductive and calculating, using personal ties to influence the group.

💃 Dancer 🧩 Manipulator

Tommy Trafler (Tony Page)

The operation’s organizer who ultimately doubles as an FBI informant, orchestrating the plan while feeding information to authorities. His calm, calculating nature hides a willingness to betray.

🕵️ Informant 🎯 Strategist

Ray Brown (Dennis Tate)

A taxi driver who challenges Estelle and serves as a skeptical observer of the conspiracy. He is practical and wary of the risks involved in the plan.

🚕 Driver 🗣️ Skeptic

James Henderson (Henry G. Sanders)

An FBI official heading special operations, involved in surveillance and infiltration of radical cells. He navigates loyalty and political pressure while pursuing the truth.

🕵️ Agent 🧭 Strategist

Chuck Bradley (Jed Mills)

An FBI agent who documents the mission and supports the undercover operation. He represents procedural vigilance and the dangers of undercover work.

🕵️ Agent 🎯 Analyst

Richard Scott (David Orange)

A journalist probing federal secrets and the line between national security and press freedom. He becomes a key observer, seeking exclusive revelations.

📰 Journalist 🗞️ Reporter

William Decker (Roy White)

A senior FBI official who denies direct ties between the agency and illicit actions, yet oversees the operation with a calculating gaze. He embodies the bureaucracy behind covert actions.

🏛️ Official 🕵️ Agent

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:31

Major Themes – No Place to Hide (1973)

Explore the central themes of No Place to Hide (1973), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔥 Violence and Extremism

Bombings and the willingness to justify deadly acts loom over the narrative, forcing characters to confront the moral costs of political violence.

🕵️ Surveillance and Infiltration

The FBI infiltrates the radical cell, trading information for leverage while pressuring journalists and activists. Trust collapses as undercover operations reveal hidden loyalties and betrayals.

💔 Loyalty and Betrayal

Loyalties are tested as informants, double-crosses, and shifting alliances threaten the group’s cohesion and the safety of its members.

⚖️ Moral Ambiguity

The story pits pacifist impulses against militant action, raising questions about whether noble ends justify violent means and who bears the moral cost.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:31

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Radical Political Dramas Like No Place to Hide

Stories where passionate political ideals lead to devastating personal consequences.If the moral complexities and political intensity of No Place to Hide captivated you, explore this collection of movies like it. These stories delve into radical activism and domestic terrorism, featuring characters whose idealism is tested by harrowing consequences, perfect for fans of tense, politically charged thrillers.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a group or individual driven by a powerful, often political, ideal. Their commitment leads them down a path of increasingly extreme actions, creating a collision course with authority or their own moral code. The story arc is typically a downward spiral, focusing on the fragmentation of the group and the collapse of their original dream under the weight of paranoia, betrayal, and violence.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared exploration of radicalism's cost. They share a heavy emotional weight, a tense and often bleak tone, and a focus on the psychological unraveling of characters who discover that their noble goals have dire, personal consequences.

Paranoid Thrillers Like No Place to Hide

High-stakes cat-and-mouse chases where the walls are closing in.For viewers who loved the relentless tension and claustrophobic chase in No Place to Hide, this list features similar paranoid crime thrillers. Discover movies with high-stakes plots, FBI investigations, and characters trapped in a web of their own making, perfect for fans of steady-burn, high-intensity suspense.

paranoidclaustrophobictenseanxioushigh-stakessuspensefulgrimunsettling

Narrative Summary

The narrative centers on a fugitive or criminal group being relentlessly pursued by a powerful, systemic force like the FBI. The plot is a steady escalation of stakes, where escape routes vanish and allies become threats. The emotional journey is one of increasing anxiety and isolation, as the characters are forced to confront the futility of their situation.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their core vibe: a high-intensity, tense, and paranoid atmosphere. They share a steady pacing that builds dread, a claustrophobic feel, and a focus on the psychological strain of being hunted, leading to a typically grim or bleak conclusion.

Unlock the Full Story of No Place to Hide

Don't stop at just watching — explore No Place to Hide in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what No Place to Hide is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

No Place to Hide Summary

Read a complete plot summary of No Place to Hide, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

No Place to Hide Summary

No Place to Hide Timeline

Track the full timeline of No Place to Hide with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

No Place to Hide Timeline

No Place to Hide Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of No Place to Hide that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

No Place to Hide Spoiler-Free Summary

More About No Place to Hide

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about No Place to Hide: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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