Save the Tiger

Save the Tiger

Year: 1973

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: John G. Avildsen

DramaMoving relationship storiesSurreal and thought-provoking visions of life and deathShow All…

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.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Save the Tiger 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 – Save the Tiger (1973)

Trace every key event in Save the Tiger (1973) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Opening morning scream and war memories

Harry Stoner wakes with a scream, haunted by memories of combat in World War II. He reenacts pre war Brooklyn Dodgers baseball games in his bedroom, signaling a chasm between past glory and present anxiety. His wife Janet urges him to seek help, while he explains that each morning costs money due to mortgage and expenses.

morning Beverly Hills mansion
2

Financial crisis at Capri Casuals

Stoner and his partner Phil Greene run Capri Casuals on the edge of collapse, aided only by fraudulent accounting. They quarrel over how to fund the new fashion line while a looming audit threatens exposure. The bank offers only half of what they need, forcing desperate calculations.

afternoon Capri Casuals, Los Angeles
3

Sunset Strip hitchhiker and the commute

Driving to the office in a Lincoln Continental, Stoner picks up a free spirit hitchhiker named Myra on Sunset Strip. She flirts and asks to party, but he declines because he is late for work. The encounter highlights his craving for escape from mounting responsibilities.

daytime Sunset Strip, Los Angeles
4

Showtime pressure and funding debate

Back at Capri Casuals, the impending fashion show for out of town buyers looms large. Stoner and Greene argue about financing and the need to present a viable line. With the bank offering only 50 percent, they fear financial ruin within the next two months.

afternoon Capri Casuals offices, Los Angeles
5

Desperate arson idea surfaces

Rejecting all legal avenues, Stoner proposes torching their Long Beach factory for an insurance payout. He questions whether Greene wants to be left out on the street and to search for a new job at his age. The suggestion marks a turning point toward naively dangerous schemes.

afternoon Capri Casuals offices / Long Beach factory
6

VIP client arrival and a risky past arrangement

An important client arrives by train from Ohio, expecting the familiar arrangement with the local prostitute Margo. The past arrangements haunt the present as the client cavorts with Margo and a French speaking assistant, and then suffers an arterial occlusion. He is rushed by ambulance for emergency heart care.

evening Capri fashion show venue
7

Premiere night and war flashbacks

Stoner takes the stage for Capri Casuals' premiere while still unsettled by war memories. He imagines injured soldiers in the audience, which unsettles both him and the crowd. The performance still manages to captivate the buyers despite his fragile demeanor.

evening Premiere stage, Los Angeles
8

Backstage lifeline and investor tension

The line's reception is strong but tempered by concern over Stoner's condition. Sid Fivush offers emergency financing backstage at a steep rate, giving Capri a temporary lifeline but underscoring the corrupting pressure of money.

after show Backstage at the venue
9

Secret arson meeting in the theater balcony

Stoner and Greene secretly meet arsonist Charlie Robbins in the balcony of a blue movie theater. They provide a $2,500 retainer and give him the factory address and keys, planning to burn the target that night and funnel the flames into the upstairs space.

night Blue Movie Theater balcony
10

Public gesture amid private scheming

On leaving the theater, Stoner signs a petition to save the world's tigers, offering a public show of conscience that contrasts with the criminal plot taking shape behind the scenes. The juxtaposition highlights his tangled moral compass.

night Theater foyer
11

Night with Myra and a fragile edge

Stoner spends the night with Myra as she housesits, but he refuses sex and erupts in an incoherent rant that unsettles her. The encounter deepens his isolation and signals his unraveling control over his impulses.

night Myra's house-sitting location
12

Next day: the warehouse plan exposed

The next day Robbins informs them that their warehouse is too far from compliance on fire safety and would not trigger an insurance payout. He suggests starting a fire in another business on the ground floor to funnel flames into their space, and Stoner agrees to proceed without Greene, asking Robbins to forget him if things go wrong.

the next day, daytime Robbins' office
13

Baseball field final moment

Stoner encounters boys playing baseball in a field and walks onto the left field fence. He winds up and pitches a powerful throw, then tells the kids that he did it to let them see it once. A boy challenges him by saying that he cannot play with them, and Stoner smiles, lingering on the field as the moment ends.

late afternoon Baseball field

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:02

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Save the Tiger Summary

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Save the Tiger Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Save the Tiger

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Save the Tiger

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