Rosemary

Rosemary

Year: 1958

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: German

Director: Rolf Thiele

DramaComedy

Based on true events, the film follows a young woman known as Rosemary, who rises in 1950s West Germany as the nation becomes an economic powerhouse. Ambitious and charismatic, she seduces members of the industrial elite, extracting confidential business information and passing it to French rivals. When her espionage is exposed, Rosemary discovers she cannot outmaneuver the authorities.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Rosemary yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Rosemary (1958)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Rosemary (1958). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Frankfurt, Germany, Hotel lobby, Hartog's apartment, Exclusive equestrian event, High-society party, Nightclub, Pool area

The film is anchored in Frankfurt, with a basement setting for the criminals and scenes in a chic hotel lobby and a wealthy apartment. It moves through an exclusive equestrian event and a high-society party, highlighting the social circle that Rosemarie aims to infiltrate. Later moments in a nightclub and by a poolside spectacle emphasize the film's glamour-crime contrast.

🏙️ City 🎭 Drama 💼 Crime

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:16

Main Characters – Rosemary (1958)

Meet the key characters of Rosemary (1958), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Rosemarie Nitribitt (Nadja Tiller)

Pretty but penniless, Rosemarie uses seduction to access wealth and status. She evolves from a bait in a street-smart plot to someone who recognizes and weaponizes the tapes she gathers. Her ambition exposes both vulnerability and deft manipulation in the pursuit of fame.

💃 Ambition 💋 Seduction 🕸️ Manipulation

Horst (Mario Adorf)

A petty criminal operating from a basement, Horst pairs practicality with greed. He colludes with Walter and moves the plan forward, though the danger of their schemes weighs on him as the web tightens.

💼 Crime 💰 Greed

Hartog (Carl Raddatz)

Wealthy, married, and controlling, Hartog orchestrates the arrangement for Rosemarie and later reacts with insecurity when the plan disrupts his status. He embodies the upper-class appetite for power and social spectacle.

👔 Wealth 🕴️ Power

Fribert (Peter van Eyck)

A wealthy Frenchman who uses Rosemarie as a covert spy to harvest business secrets. He computes risk and benefit with cool detachment, slow to collect tapes but eager to profit from the information.

👔 Elite 🧠 Espionage

Walter (Jo Herbst)

Horst's partner in crime, a fellow schemer who participates in the ruse but is often overshadowed by Rosemarie’s escalating audacity. His role is that of a steady, calculating accomplice.

🕵️‍♂️ Co-conspirator 💼 Criminal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:16

Major Themes – Rosemary (1958)

Explore the central themes of Rosemary (1958), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💎 Wealth & Status

Affluence is treated as a currency that unlocks opportunity and social visibility. Rosemarie's ascent hinges on access to rich men, expensive clothes, and luxury experiences. The film uses glamor to critique how status can corrupt ethics and fuel manipulation.

🕵️ Espionage

Industrial spying becomes a tool for personal gain rather than corporate progress. Rosemarie is coached to seduce and extract information, blurring lines between romantic encounter and surveillance. The plot hinges on the double game of collecting tapes and using them for leverage.

🎭 Desire & Identity

Desire drives the characters toward risky choices, reshaping identities as they chase recognition, money, and power. Rosemarie negotiates her image, from bait to asset, highlighting the performative nature of social life. The film exposes how personal longing can destabilize moral boundaries.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:16

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

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.

Ambitious Downfall Tragedies like Rosemary

Charismatic protagonists climb the ladder of power only to plummet from a fatal mistake.If you liked Rosemary's story of ambition and catastrophic downfall, you'll find similar movies here. These films follow charismatic figures who rise to power through morally questionable means, only to face a tragic and inevitable collapse. Discover other tense dramas about the high cost of social climbing and corruption.

ambitioustenseglamorousdangeroustragiccynicalbetrayaldownfall

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a clear arc: a driven individual from a modest background leverages their talents (often seduction, deception, or espionage) to infiltrate a powerful world. Their ascent is thrilling but precarious, built on secrets. The story's tension builds towards a tipping point—usually a betrayal or exposure—that triggers a swift and devastating fall from grace.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the 'rise and fall' archetype, a dark tone that critiques power structures, and a steady pacing that allows for methodical character development. They deliver a specific blend of glamour, tension, and tragic inevitability.

Tense Corporate Espionage Movies like Rosemary

High-stakes thrillers where business secrets are the ultimate currency and danger.Looking for more movies like Rosemary that delve into the dangerous world of industrial espionage? This list features tense thrillers and dramas about spies who steal corporate secrets, navigating a world of power, corruption, and betrayal. Find your next watch if you enjoyed the high-stakes business intrigue and tense atmosphere of Rosemary.

tensedangeroussuspensefulcorporatebetrayaldouble lifepower dynamicscorruption

Narrative Summary

The plot revolves around a mole or informant embedded within a powerful corporation or industrial elite. The narrative is driven by the constant risk of exposure as the protagonist gathers sensitive information. Key beats include tense meetings, close calls, and the psychological strain of deception, often leading to a climax where their cover is blown with severe repercussions.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films by their specific setting and plot mechanics: the high-stakes, dangerous world of corporate and industrial spying. They share a tense, dangerous mood, a focus on power dynamics and betrayal, and a steady pacing that builds suspense around the act of espionage itself.

Unlock the Full Story of Rosemary

Don't stop at just watching — explore Rosemary 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 Rosemary is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Rosemary Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Rosemary, 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.

Rosemary Summary

Rosemary Timeline

Track the full timeline of Rosemary with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Rosemary Timeline

Rosemary Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Rosemary 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.

Rosemary Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Rosemary

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Rosemary: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Rosemary

Similar Movies to Rosemary

Discover movies like Rosemary that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.