Stolen Face

Stolen Face

Year: 1952

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Director: Terence Fisher

DramaThrillerCrime

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.

Stolen Face (1952) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Stolen Face (1952) 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 shadowed streets of post‑war London, a world of polished façades hides restless yearning. Dr. Philip Ritter is a celebrated plastic surgeon whose deft hands have become a conduit for vanity and revenge. Beneath his genteel reputation lies a simmering obsession: he is haunted by a brilliant concert pianist whose sudden disappearance shattered his aspirations and his heart. The city’s elite salons and hushed operating theatres become the backdrop for a man whose art is as much about reshaping identities as it is about masking his own wounded pride.

When a scarred inmate arrives at his clinic, the surgeon sees more than a patient; he perceives a canvass upon which he might re‑create the lost beauty that once haunted his dreams. Lily Conover—a woman whose disfigurement has become both her prison and her stigma—accepts the promise of a new visage, unaware that her transformation is tied to a lover’s lingering fixation. The surgical rebirth knits together two disparate lives, forging a fragile marriage built on illusion, hope, and an uneasy equilibrium that teeters on the edge of genuine intimacy.

The delicate balance is threatened the moment the pianist, now known as Alice Brent, re‑enters Ritter’s orbit. Their reunion ignites a volatile mix of longing, jealousy, and concealed motives, casting a pall over the newly forged domesticity. As the trio navigates a labyrinth of concealed truths and unspoken desires, the film drifts between sleek London elegance and a tense, almost claustrophobic atmosphere, hinting at a web of deception that could unravel everything they have built. The stage is set for a psychological duel where faces are mutable, but the scars beneath remain stubbornly visible.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:39

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

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 obsession and identity theft like Stolen Face

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.

obsessiveunsettlingdesperatepsychologicalmanipulativetragicanxious

Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

Dark medical ethics thrillers similar to Stolen Face

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.

unsettlingethical dilemmapsychologicaltensemelancholicdesperatefatalistic

Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

Unlock the Full Story of Stolen Face

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.

Stolen Face Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Stolen Face, 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.

Stolen Face Summary

Stolen Face Timeline

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.

Stolen Face Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Stolen Face

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.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Stolen Face

More About Stolen Face

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.

More About Stolen Face

Similar Movies to Stolen Face

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.