Year: 1952
Runtime: 72 mins
Language: English
Director: Terence Fisher
A vengeful plastic surgeon gives a female inmate the face of the stunning woman who abandoned him, then marries the transformed convict. Their uneasy happiness shatters when his former lover reappears, setting off a dangerous web of deception and jealousy.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Stolen Face 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Stolen Face (1952), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Lady Harringay, Everley Gregg arrives in her chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce at the offices of plastic surgeon, Dr. Philip Ritter, in central London. He tells her he can do no more for her, since she has already had too many facelifts.
Ritter drives with a friend to Holloway Prison and interviews Lily Conover, Lizabeth Scott, a female convict whose face is badly scarred. He believes her disfigurement is the cause of her criminality and begins to consider treating her with plastic surgery. After almost having a car crash on the way back, he decides to take a holiday in the countryside.
At a country inn, he meets and soon falls in love with Alice Brent, Lizabeth Scott, a gifted and beautiful concert pianist. However, Alice is already engaged to be married to her manager David, André Morell, and, afraid to tell Ritter, she runs away.
Ritter is devastated.
Back at his surgery, Ritter receives a phone call from Alice, who finally tells him of her engagement. Meanwhile, Ritter’s new patient is Lily, now released from prison. The love-struck surgeon believes he can change her criminal ways by constructing her new face to resemble that of Alice. He does so, and they marry.
However, Lily has not changed. She grows bored with Ritter’s sedate lifestyle, returns to a life of crime and wild partying. She is reckless in her behaviour, and unabashedly flirtatious with other men, and he comes to despise her. Lily tells him she will never grant him a divorce.
As Alice completes her latest concert tour, David knows there is something wrong. He guesses she is in love with someone else, and calls off the engagement. Alice goes to see Ritter and tells him she is free to marry him now. She is stunned when he confesses what he has done.
Later, Ritter leaves London for Plymouth, believing that the situation can never be reversed. Lily follows him, however, and takes the same train, where she becomes drunk and aggressive towards Ritter. Alice believes Ritter is so upset he may harm Lily, or even kill her if provoked, and she too boards the train. She arrives just as the two are arguing and engaged in a physical struggle as Ritter tries to prevent the intoxicated Lily from falling out of the carriage. As Alice enters, Lily accidentally falls against the loose carriage door, and falls out of the train to her death. Lily is discovered dead at the side of the tracks, and Ritter and Alice are reunited.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:05
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.
Stories where dangerous obsession leads to the theft or remaking of a person's identity.If you liked the unsettling themes of identity and manipulation in Stolen Face, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This collection features thrillers and dramas where obsessive love or fixation leads to the dangerous theft or forced remaking of a person's identity, exploring the dark consequences of such moral transgressions.
These narratives typically follow a character whose unhealthy fixation drives them to an extreme act of control, such as forcing someone to assume a new identity. The story then unravels the psychological fallout for both the perpetrator and the victim, building towards a confrontation that exposes the fragile and dangerous nature of the constructed reality.
Movies are grouped here based on their shared exploration of the dark psychological territory where love turns into possession. They feature similar tones of unease and desperation, centered on the core theme of identity being used as a tool for manipulation, leading to intense emotional and moral conflicts.
Thrillers that explore the terrifying consequences of crossing ethical lines in medicine.For viewers who enjoyed the disturbing premise of Stolen Face, this list features movies like it that explore the dark side of medical power. These thrillers and dramas involve plastic surgery, psychological manipulation, or unethical experiments, focusing on the tense and often tragic consequences of a professional crossing serious ethical boundaries.
The narrative pattern involves a medical or scientific professional who, driven by obsession, grief, or a god complex, uses their skills in a deeply unethical way. The plot follows the unraveling of their experiment and the escalating danger for their subject, building tension through the inevitable collapse of their controlled scenario and the resulting moral reckoning.
These films share a common vibe of intellectual horror and moral unease, stemming from the abuse of specialized knowledge. They are united by a steady, deliberate pacing that allows the full weight of the ethical violation to sink in, leading to high-intensity confrontations and a generally dark, heavy tone.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Stolen Face 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 Stolen Face is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Stolen Face with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Stolen Face. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Stolen Face 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.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Stolen Face: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Stolen Face 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.
Stolen Face (1952) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Stolen Face (1952) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Stolen Face (1952) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Stolen Face – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Stolen (2010) Full Movie Breakdown
Stolen (2012) Complete Plot Breakdown
Faceless (1988) Full Summary & Key Details
Face of a Stranger (1964) Movie Recap & Themes
The Man with My Face (1951) Complete Plot Breakdown
Double Face (1969) Movie Recap & Themes
Another Face (1935) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Stolen Innocence (1995) Detailed Story Recap
Face of Terror (1962) Detailed Story Recap
Face (1997) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Face Behind the Mask (1941) Full Summary & Key Details
A Woman’s Face (1938) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
A Face to Die For (1996) Complete Plot Breakdown
False Face (1977) Film Overview & Timeline
A Woman’s Face (1941) Full Summary & Key Details