Surrender

Surrender

Year: 1987

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: Jerry Belson

Comedy

A witty romantic comedy follows a wealthy novelist scarred by money‑hungry ex‑wives and girlfriends. To discover whether the woman he truly loves cares for him or his fortune, he masquerades as a destitute, struggling writer, leading both of them into a chaotic, hilarious pursuit of genuine affection.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Surrender (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Surrender (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

The film moves through high-society Los Angeles and its luxury hubs, anchored by a Beverly Hills home and the social events that frame the story. Lake Tahoe serves as the romantic destination for the elopement, contrasting wealth with intimate moments. Nevada's casino culture provides the backdrop for Daisy's lottery-like win and the couple's unraveling, highlighting a world built on glamour and risk.

🏙️ City 🏰 Luxury 🎰 Casino

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:27

Main Characters – Surrender (1987)

Meet the key characters of Surrender (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sean Stein (Michael Caine)

A successful, cynical novelist who tests Daisy’s love by posing as a penniless suitor. His calculated prank exposes his vulnerability, revealing a man torn between pride and longing. The arc moves from manipulation to heartbreak as he confronts the consequences of disguising his true self.

💼 Wealthy 🧠 Clever 💔 Reluctant romantic

Daisy Morgan (Sally Field)

An attractive woman entangled with Marty but drawn to Sean’s charm. She grapples with loyalty, desire, and the value of genuine affection beyond luxury. Her choices drive the plot toward marriage, elopement, and a complicated clash between truth and perception.

💖 Romantic 💎 Ambitious 🌀 Tempted

Marty (Steve Guttenberg)

Daisy’s whiny, unstable lawyer boyfriend who resists commitment. His insecurity and dependence on Daisy’s wealth create friction and fuel the story’s conflict, pressing Daisy to choose between stability and true connection.

🤵 Commitment-phobic 🗣️ Loud 🛡️ Protective

Jay Bass (Peter Boyle)

Sean’s lawyer who navigates the legal sides of the ruse. He is pragmatic and loyal to Sean, comfortable with manipulation to achieve a desired outcome, highlighting the intersection of law, reputation, and personal gambles on love.

⚖️ Legal 🧪 Calculated 🗺️ Strategist

Daisy's Lawyer (Channing Chase)

Represents Daisy during negotiations and legal considerations surrounding marriage, prenups, and potential disputes. Serves as a stabilizing yet sharp counterpart to Sean’s plotting, grounding the personal drama in legal realities.

⚖️ Lawyer 🧭 Negotiator 🧩 Connector

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:27

Major Themes – Surrender (1987)

Explore the central themes of Surrender (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💖 Romance vs Wealth

Sean's experiment to test Daisy's affections hinges on whether love can endure beyond money. The plot explores authenticity in relationships when appearances and social status are at stake. The evolving dynamic shows how deception can collapse under honesty, revealing what characters truly value. Ultimately, the story weighs money against genuine connection.

💰 Wealth and Power

Wealth saturates the narrative—from the charity ball to the Beverly Hills home and a Nevada casino moment. The characters negotiate loyalty, commitment, and control using money as leverage and bargaining power. Prenuptial pressures and social expectations heighten tension, illustrating how affluence can both attract and destabilize intimate bonds. The ending hints that money cannot buy true intimacy when truth prevails.

⚖️ Identity and Truth

Sean's disguise raises questions about who a person is beyond wealth and status. The story probes whether love can withstand exposure of a hidden self and the consequences of deception. Daisy's responses—between romance and pragmatism—reveal how trust is built, challenged, and redefined. The narrative culminates in a reckoning where honesty determines the worth of the relationship.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:27

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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.

Romantic Comedies of Deception like Surrender

Characters who test love through elaborate pretenses and humorous misunderstandings.This list features movies like Surrender where love and laughter are intertwined with clever deceptions. If you enjoyed the witty ruse and the pursuit of genuine affection amidst chaos in Surrender, you'll find similar charming and hilarious romantic comedies here.

comedicromanticdeceptivechaoticwittyplayfulhopeful

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically revolve around a central character who fabricates an identity or situation to win over or test their love interest. The narrative thrives on the tension of the deception, the close calls of being discovered, and the eventual climax where the truth comes out, forcing a reevaluation of the relationship based on honesty.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core narrative device of romantic deception used for comedic and emotional effect. They blend the lightheartedness of comedy with the relatable anxieties of trust and authenticity in relationships, creating a specific, engaging viewing experience.

Movies about Wealthy Protagonists Seeking Authenticity like Surrender

Affluent characters disguising their wealth to find love and genuine connection.Discover films similar to Surrender, where rich characters go undercover to find real love. If you liked the premise of a wealthy novelist pretending to be poor to test his relationship in Surrender, explore these other stories exploring trust, wealth, and authenticity.

cynicalhopefulcomedicromanticwealthdisguiseauthentic

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist who feels isolated or distrustful due to their wealth. They intentionally step into a simpler, less privileged life, leading to a culture clash and personal growth. The conflict arises from maintaining the lie while developing real feelings, culminating in a revelation that tests the foundation of the new relationship.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a central theme of wealth as a barrier to intimacy and the desire to find authentic connection beyond material possessions. They combine a cynical view of fortune-seeking with an optimistic belief in true love, creating a specific thematic and emotional blend.

Unlock the Full Story of Surrender

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

Surrender Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Surrender, 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.

Surrender Summary

Surrender Timeline

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

Surrender Timeline

Surrender Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Surrender 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.

Surrender Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Surrender

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

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