Snowbound

Snowbound

Year: 1948

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: English

Director: David Macdonald

DramaThrillerMystery

Seven of the world’s most dangerous people… Good and bad characters are stuck in a ski chalet near buried Nazi gold in the Alps.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Snowbound 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 – Snowbound (1948)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Snowbound (1948). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War II era (1940s)

Italy is under Allied influence with German presence shaping the politics of the region. British Intelligence conducts covert operations in a climate of secrecy, deception, and high-stakes negotiation over a hidden fortune. The wartime setting intensifies every encounter, turning the lodge into a powder keg of loyalties and danger.

Location

Italian Alps, mountain top ski lodge, valley hotel

The action unfolds in a remote Alpine setting in the Italian Alps, with a mountain-top lodge serving as the primary crossroads for espionage. A valley hotel and a chain of connected rooms create a claustrophobic backdrop where guests blend into a wider conspiracy. The snowbound landscape isolates the characters and raises the stakes as blizzards strand everyone together.

🏔️ Alpine 🏨 Lodge ❄️ Snowy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:52

Main Characters – Snowbound (1948)

Meet the key characters of Snowbound (1948), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Neil Blair (Dennis Price)

An ex-commanding officer pulled into a covert operation, Blair plays a dangerous double game as he pretends to be a scriptwriter while feeding intel back to Engles. His nerve under pressure and willingness to bend rules make him a key asset, even as his feelings for Carla complicate the mission.

🕵️ Spy 🧭 Loyal 🎭 Double life

Derek Engles (Robert Newton)

British film director who is revealed to be a colonel in Intelligence, orchestrating the lodge operation. He uses glamour and control to keep the plan on track, balancing skepticism with a desire to protect his agents.

🧭 Intelligence 🛡️ Strategist 🎯 Mentor

Joe Wesson (Stanley Holloway)

A cameraman who is part of the setup to look like a film crew, but who is in on the operation with Blair. He remains practical and pragmatic as danger intensifies.

🎥 Cameraman 🤝 Ally 🧭 Undercover

Carla Rometta / Comtessa Forelli (Mila Parély)

The enigmatic guest who captivates Blair while presenting a complex web of loyalties. Carla’s true identity and motives reveal a blend of romance and ambition in wartime survival.

💃 Charm 🧭 Dual identity 🎭 Mask

Keramikos / Von Kellerman (Herbert Lom)

A Gestapo agent operating from Venice, scheming to recover and transport gold to Germany. He is the mastermind whose ruthless plans threaten everyone at the lodge.

🕶️ Schemes 🗡️ Ruthless 🗺️ Hidden agenda

Gilbert Mayne (Guy Middleton)

A man with a shadowy past who colludes in the operation and becomes a perilous threat when loyalties shift. His involvement escalates tension and violence, culminating in a deadly confrontation.

🔪 Betrayal 🪙 Money 🗡️ Mercenary

Aldo (Willy Fueter)

Innkeeper who quietly exerts influence over guests and rooms, acting as a lynchpin for the night’s events. His actions have a moral ambiguity that tilts the balance toward danger.

🍷 Innkeeper 🪵 Hostility 🕵️ Collusion

Stefano Valdini (Marcel Dalio)

A guest who helps bridge language gaps and align the players, playing a cautious but decisive role in the unfolding drama.

🎭 Guest 🗣️ Translator 🧭 Ally

Mancini (Richard Molinas)

A local contact who organizes the search party and becomes a pivotal point in the chase for the truth of the missing Blair.

🕵️ Detective 🧩 Clue 🗞️ Messenger

Stelben (William Price)

A captain entangled with Carla and Kellerman who is implicated in the gold scheme; his fate is sealed as loyalties collide with the fire and the truth.

🎯 Agent 🗡️ Murder 💣 Danger

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:52

Major Themes – Snowbound (1948)

Explore the central themes of Snowbound (1948), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Espionage

Blair is recruited by Engles to spy on lodge guests under the guise of scriptwriting. The operation relies on disguises, misdirection, and constant risk of exposure as alliances shift. Keramikos and Kellerman represent seasoned operators whose hidden motives drive the plot. The narrative hinges on who knows whom and who can be trusted in a web of secrets.

💰 Gold and Power

The gold reserves of the Bank of Italy become the coveted prize driving multiple players. Kellerman seeks to move the treasure to Germany to fund a fascist rebuilding, while others race to locate it first. The pursuit threads through the lodge, the auction, and the basement, culminating in a deadly confrontation as the building burns. The gold functions as a symbol of leverage, influence, and wartime ambition.

❤️ Love and Loyalty

Blair’s developing affection for Carla Rometta complicates the espionage mission, blending romance with danger. Carla’s shifting loyalties reveal how love can both hinder and sustain a perilous operation in wartime. The ending hinges on Carla’s choice to protect Blair and the gold’s secret, highlighting the human costs of war.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:52

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Claustrophobic Thrillers of Trapped Mistrust like Snowbound

When danger is locked in with you, and trust becomes a liability.If you liked the tense, confined suspense of Snowbound, explore more movies where characters are trapped together with danger. These stories feature isolated settings that amplify paranoia and suspicion, leading to explosive confrontations and moral tests. Find your next thrilling watch among these similar high-tension narratives.

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Narrative Summary

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Why These Movies?

This thread groups films that share a specific historical mood and thematic focus. They are united by their setting in a war's aftermath, their exploration of moral ambiguity, and their focus on the heavy emotional and psychological toll exacted on those who remain.

Unlock the Full Story of Snowbound

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

Snowbound Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Snowbound, 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.

Snowbound Summary

Snowbound Timeline

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

Snowbound Timeline

Snowbound Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Snowbound 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.

Snowbound Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Snowbound

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Snowbound: 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 Snowbound

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