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.

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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

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Rosemary Summary

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Rosemary Summary

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Rosemary Timeline

More About Rosemary

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Rosemary (1958) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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Rosemary (1958) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow