Save the Tiger

Save the Tiger

Year: 1973

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: John G. Avildsen

Drama

Harry Stoner manipulates the books, sets fire to a factory and supplies women to his clients, all in a desperate bid to secure another season. Over the span of two days his cut‑throat business tactics begin to clash with his personal life, exposing the cost of his ambition.

Save the Tiger (1973) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Save the Tiger (1973) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the sun‑drenched world of 1960s Los Angeles, Harry Stoner lives in a sprawling Beverly Hills mansion, surrounded by the trappings of wealth and the lingering shadows of a haunted World‑War II past. His mind drifts back to the roar of pre‑war Brooklyn Dodgers games, a nostalgic rhythm that surfaces in restless dreams and sudden, vivid flashbacks. The mansion’s polished interior masks a fragile psyche, one that balances the comforts of luxury against the echo of a life once scarred by conflict.

Harry’s professional arena is the cut‑throat fashion house Capri Casuals, a Los Angeles apparel firm he co‑runs with his longtime partner Phil Greene. Together they chase the promise of a new seasonal line, navigating a maze of high‑stakes buyers, demanding financiers, and the ever‑present pressure of a looming audit. The atmosphere buzzes with the glamorous tension of runway shows, sleek designer fabrics, and the glittering allure of an industry that can turn fortunes on a single moment of applause.

At home, Janet Stoner presses for help, urging her husband toward any remedy that might quiet his night‑time torments. Their marriage weaves together devotion, impatience, and the strain of trying to sustain a privileged lifestyle while the business teeters on the edge of collapse. Around them swirl a cast of acquaintances whose loyalties and motives blur the line between legitimate enterprise and the shadowy shortcuts that promise quick salvation.

The film settles into a mood that is simultaneously opulent and unsettling, a portrait of a man whose ambition drives him toward ever‑riskier horizons. As the glitter of the fashion world collides with the lingering ghosts of his past, Harry finds himself caught in a delicate dance between survival and surrender, leaving the audience to wonder just how far one will go when the season hangs in the balance.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:01

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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.

Movies about desperate business spirals like Save the Tiger

Stories of ambitious protagonists cornered by circumstance into high-stakes moral compromises.If you liked the high-stakes pressure and moral decay in Save the Tiger, explore other movies about desperate business spirals. These films feature protagonists facing financial ruin who make drastic, ethically bankrupt choices, resulting in tense, character-driven dramas with heavy emotional weight.

desperatepressure-filledanxiouscynicaltensemorally complex

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically centers on a protagonist facing an imminent professional or financial crisis. Over a compressed timeline, they devise and execute a risky, morally dubious scheme, leading to escalating tension as their personal life clashes with their actions, culminating in a costly pyrrhic victory or a bitter reckoning.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the psychological toll of ambition and the dark, tense atmosphere of a protagonist willingly crossing ethical lines. They share a steady, deliberate pacing that builds internal anxiety and a bittersweet or bleak ending that underscores the hollowness of their achievements.

Movies with haunted protagonists like the one in Save the Tiger

Character studies where traumatic memories or nostalgic yearning clash with a bleak present.For viewers who appreciated the melancholic depth of Harry Stoner's character in Save the Tiger, this section features movies with haunted protagonists. These films explore characters grappling with PTSD, nostalgia, or past trauma, whose present actions are shadowed by these memories, resulting in heavy, psychologically rich dramas.

hauntedmelancholicnostalgicintrospectivepsychologicaldesperate

Narrative Summary

The narrative is a character-driven journey where the protagonist's internal conflict with their past—manifested as flashbacks, nightmares, or wistful recollections—directly influences their decisions in the present. This creates a dual timeline effect, contrasting a troubled current reality with an idealized or traumatic past, leading to a crisis of identity.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their deep dive into a character's psychology, specifically how unresolved past experiences shape a desperate present. They share a melancholic and nostalgic mood, a heavy emotional weight, and a tone that balances dark current events with poignant, bittersweet reflections on what has been lost.

Unlock the Full Story of Save the Tiger

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

Save the Tiger Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Save the Tiger, 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.

Save the Tiger Summary

Save the Tiger Timeline

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

Save the Tiger Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Save the Tiger

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Save the Tiger. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Save the Tiger

More About Save the Tiger

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Discover movies like Save the Tiger 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.