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.

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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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Surrender Summary

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Surrender Summary

Surrender Timeline

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Surrender Timeline

More About Surrender

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