Saigon

Saigon

Year: 1947

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Leslie Fenton

DramaCrime

Set in post‑World War II Saigon, “Paris of the Orient,” Larry learns his flying buddy Mike is terminally ill. To give him a final thrill, Larry takes a lucrative charter for profiteer Maris and forces Maris’s secretary Susan onto the plane. Mike falls for Susan, Larry asks her to play along, but she ends up falling for Larry.

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Timeline & Setting – Saigon (1947)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Saigon (1947). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Post-World War II (mid-1940s)

World War II has ended, placing the story in the immediate aftermath. The era is marked by profiteering, shifting loyalties, and a sense of unfinished business from the war. The narrative uses this period to frame desperate choices and risky schemes among returning soldiers and civilians.

Location

Saigon

The action unfolds in Saigon, moving from a hotel to a boat, with the city as the backdrop for a tense money scheme and pursuit. The hotel, the boat voyage, and the streets provide settings where deception, pursuit, and romance collide. The postwar atmosphere heightens stakes as loyalties are tested and lives are on the line.

🌆 Saigon 🗺️ Postwar setting 🚢 Port city

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

Main Characters – Saigon (1947)

Meet the key characters of Saigon (1947), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Major Larry Briggs (Alan Ladd)

A World War II veteran who schemes to take a flying job for a profiteer. He becomes entangled with Susan and navigates a tangled web of loyalty, love, and self-interest. His actions are driven by mixed motives as he tries to protect Mike while pursuing his own feelings for Susan.

🧭 Loyal 🎯 Calculated 💔 Torn

Captain Mike Perry (Douglas Dick)

A captain whose head injury has left him with only two months to live. He forms a close bond with Susan and pursues happiness in the remaining time, even as danger closes in. His earnestness and devotion contrast with the scheming around him, and he ultimately dies in the final confrontation.

💪 Brave ❤️ Romantic 😢 Tragic

Susan Cleaver (Veronica Lake)

Maris's secretary who boards the ill-fated aircraft and carries a hidden fortune of $500,000. She becomes the object of Larry's affection, then complicates the plot by playing along with the ruse. Ultimately, she navigates loyalty between Larry and Mike and participates in the money's retrieval.

💃 Romantic 🗝️ Secretive 💰 Loyal

Alex Maris (Morris Carnovsky)

A profiteer using the war’s aftermath to amass wealth. He orchestrates the scheme and holds Larry hostage along with his valet Simon. He is killed in a gunfight during the final confrontation with Mike.

💰 Greed 🎭 Schemer 🔫 Antagonist

Simon (Luis Van Rooten)

Maris’s valet and accomplice who helps execute the ruse. He clashes with Pete during the climax and both meet their end in a balcony fall.

🕵️‍♂️ Accomplice 💥 Tension 🪦 Fatal

Lieutenant Keon (Luther Adler)

A police lieutenant shadowing the group, convinced they are smugglers. He represents the law and adds pressure as the conspiracy unfolds, staying persistent throughout the pursuit.

👮‍♂️ Authority 🧭 Suspicion 🔎 Tense

Sergeant Pete Rocco (Wally Cassell)

Larry’s ally who confronts the scheme and fights to protect his friends. He dies in a balcony duel with Simon while attempting to thwart the plan.

🎖️ Loyal 🥊 Protector 💔 Tragic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

Major Themes – Saigon (1947)

Explore the central themes of Saigon (1947), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Love Triangle

Two men and a woman become entangled in a complicated romance that tests loyalty and moral clarity. The relationships are shaped by deception, competing desires, and the danger of money overriding trust. The lovers must choose between personal happiness and the consequences of their actions. The resolution hinges on sacrifice and the limits of love.

💰 Greed

A half-million dollar payoff drives the plot and motivates the characters’ moves. The pursuit of wealth amid postwar chaos fuels manipulation, coercion, and violence. The film shows how profit can corrupt judgment and escalate danger. The consequences ultimately collide with human values.

🎭 Deception

Plans are built on lies, misdirection, and calculated poses. Characters mask their true intentions to protect themselves or others, creating a web of suspicion. Deception fuels the suspense as trust erodes between friends and lovers. The truth surfaces only after a chain of risky gambits.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:16

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Saigon Summary

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Saigon Summary

Saigon Timeline

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Saigon Timeline

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