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The Con Artists (1976) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Con Artists (1976) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1976 · 105 mins · Italian
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Directed by
Sergio Corbucci
Starring
Anthony Quinn, Capucine, Ugo Bologna, Adriano Celentano, Corinne Cléry, Sal Borgese

Belle Duke seeks revenge on her ex‑lover Philip Bang by arranging his jailbreak, but the escaped prisoner is actually Italian crook Felice Brianza, known as Felix. Felix is forced to help Philip break out, and once free the two team up to con Belle. Their scheme grows tangled when Felix falls for Philip’s daughter.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (4)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like The Con Artists
  8. 8 Every angle
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4 main characters · contains spoilers

The Con Artists Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Con Artists (1976), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Philip Bang (Anthony Quinn)

    A notorious master con man who is relocated to a high-security facility as part of a larger escape plan. He is suave, calculating, and capable of turning tight situations to his advantage, even when his own freedom hinges on others. His past grifts have made him wary of Belle Duke's vengeance, yet his charm remains a key asset in the cons.

    • 🧠 Strategic
    • 🎭 Charismatic
  • Belle Duke (Capucine)

    Owner of a casino yacht and a seasoned con artist who uses others to further her wealth and revenge. She plays rival players against each other and wields leverage over Charlotte to force Felix's cooperation. Her ruthlessness is matched by a flair for dramatic schemes.

    • 🎭 Manipulative
    • 💎 Wealth-focused
  • Félix (Adriano Celentano)

    A young Italian con man who initially appears as Bang's reluctant escape aide. His ingenuity and audacity drive many of the film's key reversals, including using disguises and calculated false deaths to manipulate Belle Duke and Bang. He partners with Charlotte and Bang, testing loyalties along the way.

    • 🧠 Inventive
    • 🕶️ Charismatic
  • Charlotte (Corinne Cléry)

    Bang's daughter who becomes entangled in the con's web and falls for Felix. She navigates shifting loyalties between her father and the man she loves, playing a pivotal role in the deception. Her presence humanizes the caper while increasing the stakes.

    • 💖 Loyal
    • 🎯 Cunning

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:25

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Setting

Where and When Does The Con Artists Take Place?

The setting of The Con Artists (1976): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Roaring Twenties

The action unfolds in the 1920s, an era of newfound wealth and glamorous nightlife. Across the south of France, high-society gatherings and cunning robberies create a playground for the con artists.

Location

Southern France

Set in the sun-drenched south of France during the Roaring Twenties, the film uses the Riviera's luxury, casinos, and fast transit to stage its schemes. The glamorous backdrop blends opulence with danger as trains, casino yachts, and high-stakes cons set the pace of the story.

  • 🎭 Glamour
  • 🌊 Côte d'Azur
  • 🕰️ Jazz Age

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:25

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4 major themes

The Con Artists Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Con Artists (1976) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Deception

    A web of lies and misdirection drives the plot. Bang, Felix, and Belle Duke keep altering identities and schemes, while Charlotte becomes a pawn and a participant in each new ruse. The con works through layered bluffs that blur the line between truth and performance.

  • Cunning

    Strategic wit and psychological manipulation are the engines of every move. Characters improvise with disguises, fake crimes, and carefully timed reveals to outsmart rivals. The film treats cleverness as both craft and sport.

  • Affection

    Romance and loyalty weave through the con: Charlotte's affection for Felix and Bang's guarded past with Belle Duke complicate judgments. The relationships shift alliances and motive, adding emotional stakes to the caper.

  • Gambling & Illusion

    The plot frames crime as spectacle: fake archeological discoveries, staged kidnappings, and money tricks create a carnival atmosphere. Wealth is gambled for, and every bluff threatens to collapse under scrutiny. The con is as much about style as it is about theft.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:25

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Character & theme questions

The Con Artists Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Con Artists (1976): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Con Artists set?

The film is set in the sun-drenched south of France along the Côte d'Azur. The glamorous Riviera backdrop features luxury casinos, fast transit, and opulent settings like casino yachts, creating a playground where the con artists operate.

  • setting
  • côte d'azur
  • southern france
  • riviera
  • france
Q2

What time period is The Con Artists set in?

The film takes place during the Roaring Twenties, an era of newfound wealth and glamorous nightlife. This Jazz Age setting provides the perfect atmosphere for high-society gatherings and cunning robberies.

  • 1920s
  • roaring twenties
  • jazz age
  • time period
  • era
Q3

What are the main themes in The Con Artists?

The film explores four major themes: Deception (a web of lies and misdirection where characters constantly change identities), Cunning (strategic wit and psychological manipulation as the engine of every move), Affection (romance and loyalty that complicate judgments and shift alliances), and Gambling & Illusion (framing crime as spectacle with staged kidnappings and money tricks).

  • deception
  • cunning
  • themes
  • affection
  • gambling
  • illusion
Q4

Who is Philip Bang in The Con Artists?

Philip Bang is a notorious master con man played by Anthony Quinn. He is suave, calculating, and capable of turning tight situations to his advantage. His past grifts have made him wary of Belle Duke's vengeance, yet his charm remains a key asset in the cons.

  • philip bang
  • anthony Quinn
  • con man
  • mastermind
Q5

Who is Belle Duke in The Con Artists?

Belle Duke is a seasoned con artist and owner of a casino yacht, played by Capucine. She uses others to further her wealth and revenge, playing rival players against each other. Her ruthlessness is matched by a flair for dramatic schemes, and she wields leverage over Charlotte to force cooperation.

  • belle duke
  • capucine
  • casino yacht
  • con artist
  • villain
Q6

Who is Félix in The Con Artists?

Félix is a young Italian con man played by Adriano Celentano. He initially appears as Bang's reluctant escape aide but proves to be ingenious and audacious, driving many key reversals through disguises and calculated false deaths. He partners with Charlotte and Bang, testing loyalties along the way.

  • félix
  • adriano celentano
  • italian con man
  • disguise
Q7

Who is Charlotte in The Con Artists?

Charlotte is Philip Bang's daughter, played by Corinne Cléry. She becomes entangled in the con's web and falls for Félix. She navigates shifting loyalties between her father and the man she loves, playing a pivotal role in the deception while humanizing the caper.

  • charlotte
  • corinne cléry
  • bang's daughter
  • love interest
Q8

What is the Côte d'Azur setting like in the film?

The Côte d'Azur serves as more than just scenery, it is integral to the story's tone. The glamorous backdrop blends opulence with danger as trains, casino yachts, and high-stakes cons set the pace. Luxury and risk intertwine throughout the Jazz Age setting.

  • côte d'azur
  • glamour
  • luxury
  • casino
  • yachts
Q9

What genre is The Con Artists?

The Con Artists is a comedy crime film. The tone is light with financial and reputational stakes rather than life-threatening danger. The story focuses on cleverness over genuine malice, with a playful atmosphere leading to a triumphant happy ending.

  • comedy
  • crime
  • genre
  • comedy crime
Q10

What is The Con Artists about?

Belle Duke seeks revenge on her ex-lover Philip Bang by arranging his jailbreak, but the escaped prisoner is actually Italian crook Félix. Forced to help Bang escape, the two team up to con Belle. Their scheme grows tangled when Félix falls for Bang's daughter Charlotte, creating layered deceptions where characters constantly mislead each other.

  • plot
  • summary
  • con
  • revenge
  • scheme

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Con Artists, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Con Artists tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Clever Con Artist Movies like The Con Artists

Fast-paced stories where charming rogues pull off elaborate, joyful schemes. If you enjoyed the charming rogues and elaborate schemes in The Con Art, you'll love these movies. This list features witty crime capers and heist films where clever con games and mischievous plots take center stage, providing a fun, fast-paced viewing experience.

  • playful
  • mischievous
  • fast-paced
  • confident
  • escapist
  • clever
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a team or individual con artist as they plan and execute an elaborate scam. The plot is driven by twists, double-crosses, and clever reversals, often with a romantic subplot or comedic elements that keep the mood light and the stakes primarily financial.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together for their shared focus on cleverness over violence, their light-hearted tone, and the intricate, fast-paced plotting of the con itself. They deliver a sense of playful escapism where the audience roots for the charming criminals.

Movies with Complex Deceptions like The Con Artists

Complex plots where characters get caught in ruses within ruses. Fans of the nested ruses and mistaken identities in The Con Artists will enjoy these films. Discover similar stories with convoluted plots, cases of double-crossing, and humorous chaos where characters are constantly pretending to be someone they're not.

  • deceptive
  • complex
  • mischievous
  • chaotic
  • unpredictable
  • clever
  • Tone: light, mischievous
  • Pacing: fast, convoluted
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story begins with a central case of mistaken identity or a lie that snowballs into an increasingly complicated situation. Characters are forced to maintain multiple false personas, leading to a chain reaction of deceptions, unexpected alliances, and comedic twists before ultimately unraveling.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific narrative structure of escalating deceptions and comedic misunderstandings. The enjoyment comes from the intricate plot mechanics and the clever ways characters navigate the web of lies they've created, resulting in a complex but ultimately satisfying puzzle.

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Movies Like The Con Artists

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Every angle

The Con Artists (1976) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Con Artists in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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