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The Con Artists (1976) movie poster

Timeline

The Con Artists (1976) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1976 · 105 mins · Italian
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 (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (13)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like The Con Artists
  5. 5 Every angle

13 events in order · contains spoilers

The Con Artists Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Con Artists (1976) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Prison relocation triggers the jailbreak plan

    In southern France during the Roaring Twenties, Bang is moved to a high-security hard-labor facility as part of a larger jailbreak scheme. The plan is orchestrated by his former wife Belle Duke and his daughter Charlotte, who enlist their aid to spring him. The transfer is presented as routine, concealing the escape plot until it is already underway.

    When
    Roaring Twenties, during transport
    Where
    French prison and transport facility
  2. Bang becomes an unwilling escape aide on the train

    On the move, Bang is unexpectedly pressed into aiding Felix, a younger con man, as Bang prepares to depart the train via the wagon restroom. Felix improvises a bold escape plan, pulling Bang into the role of accomplice. The unlikely partnership seeds a tangled game of cat-and-mouse between the two men.

    When
    During transfer
    Where
    Train en route to transit facility
  3. Felix is mistaken for Bang and captured

    Felix is mistaken for Bang and seized by Belle Duke's henchmen, who control her casino yacht. Belle Duke, furious at the mix-up, insists that Bang must be freed and brought to heel. Felix manages to slip away from the thugs, setting the stage for further confrontations.

    When
    Shortly after the mistaken capture
    Where
    Belle Duke's casino yacht
  4. Belle Duke schemes with Charlotte to trap them

    Belle Duke uses Charlotte to set Bang and Felix up for her own purposes, pressing them into engagement with her plans. Bang is wary, having fleeced Belle before, but he agrees to participate to secure his freedom. The arrangement deepens the manipulation and stakes of the con.

    When
    Following Felix’s escape
    Where
    Belle Duke’s casino operations
  5. Felix engineers Bang’s breakout from transit facilities

    Leveraging his knowledge of the transit facility, Felix stages a daring escape using a purloined priest's cassock and a cuckoo clock bomb. Bang is pulled into the breakout, and the two men re-enter Belle Duke’s orbit under new pretenses. The escape redefines their alliance and the danger they face.

    When
    During the breakout operation
    Where
    Transit facility
  6. Bang hesitates to return to Belle Duke

    Bang hesitates to return to Belle Duke, knowing he previously fleeced her of wealth while in prison. His reluctance creates tension but also motivates him to keep the con going for mutual advantage. The risk of Belle's revenge remains a constant cloud over their plan.

    When
    Post-breakout
    Where
    On the run across southern France
  7. Felix, Bang, and Charlotte form a triad

    After testing Felix’s talents and attitudes, Bang, Felix, and Charlotte become a working team. Charlotte’s loyalty and love for Felix deepen the bond between them as they plan their moves. They begin to execute more elaborate cons against Belle Duke.

    When
    Soon after breakout
    Where
    Hideouts along the French coast
  8. Fake archeological sensation to fleece Belle Duke

    The trio launches a fake archeological discovery, using authentic museum exhibits to lend legitimacy to a scam around a worthless swampland. They drive the price up with a believable backstory and a staged museum-grade presentation. Belle Duke is drawn in, wagering her money on the bogus find.

    When
    Mid-plot
    Where
    Site used for the swampland archeology ruse
  9. Felix ups the stakes with a kidnapping pretence

    To cement the illusion, Felix claims Charlotte has been kidnapped, exploiting Bang’s distressed reaction to sell the con to Belle Duke. The ruse heightens Belle Duke’s confidence in the scheme and makes her more determined to close the deal. The deception tightens the trap around Bang and Felix.

    When
    Mid-plot
    Where
    Belle Duke's operations base
  10. The money heist and a fake police arrest

    Felix sprints away with the money, apparently dying when his escape boat crashes into a boathouse and explodes. The police arrive, supposedly arresting Bang in despair, but the squad turns out to be Bang’s own con gang in disguise. The double bluff keeps Bang and Felix free to press the con further.

    When
    Following the crash
    Where
    Boathouse and riverfront
  11. Police reveal and mannequin-led escape

    The police reveal themselves as Bang’s con comrades, and Felix leads a motorcycle escort composed of shop-window mannequins. The trick deceives Belle Duke and buys them more time to plan their next move. The ruse showcases the team's theatrical cunning and resourcefulness.

    When
    Shortly after the arrest ruse
    Where
    Dock area and street near the boathouse
  12. Escape by single-engine airplane

    Bang, Felix, and Charlotte escape Belle Duke by slipping away on a single-engine airplane. Belle Duke’s pursuit intensifies as she realizes the con has outpaced her. The trio rides a high-altitude finale toward safety and revenge against the casino queen.

    When
    Final act
    Where
    Coastal airstrip / airfield
  13. Final bluff with the cash on the wing

    In a last gambit, Felix throws open the plane door and spills the fleeced 100 million Francs into the wind, only to reel them back in with a cunningly arranged line. The money is repeatedly bluffed and controlled through clever ropework and timing. The caper ends with the crew clutching their prize as Belle Duke’s pursuit fades into the clouds.

    When
    Final moment
    Where
    In flight over the coast

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:27

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Timeline questions answered

The Con Artists Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Con Artists (1976): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Belle Duke arrange Philip Bang's jailbreak?

Belle Duke arranged the jailbreak as a revenge scheme. She was Philip Bang's former wife and partner in crime, but Bang had previously fleeced her of her wealth while in prison. By orchestrating his escape, she planned to get Bang back under her control and recover or retaliate for the money he stole from her.

Foreshadowing: The story hints at Belle Duke's vengeful nature early on through her casino operations and her quick anger when Felix is mistaken for Bang.

  • belle duke
  • philip bang
  • jailbreak
  • revenge
  • ex-wife
  • con artists
Q2

How did Felix get mistaken for Philip Bang?

When Felix escaped from the transit facility using the wagon restroom trick, he emerged at the exact moment Bang was also using the same restroom to escape. Belle Duke's henchmen were waiting outside to intercept Bang's transport, but when they saw a man matching Bang's description emerge, they grabbed Felix instead, not knowing the real Bang was still inside.

Foreshadowing: The confusion stems from the simultaneous escape plans that both men were executing at the same location.

  • felix
  • mistaken identity
  • bang
  • captured
  • catch
Q3

Why did Felix agree to help Bang escape after being captured?

Belle Duke used Bang's daughter Charlotte as leverage against Felix. After Felix escaped from her thugs, Belle Duke set a trap using Charlotte, leaving Felix with no choice but to agree to free Bang or lose Charlotte forever. This forced Felix into the partnership that drove the rest of the plot.

Foreshadowing: Belle Duke's manipulation tactics are established early when she orchestrates the jailbreak scheme through Charlotte.

  • felix
  • bang
  • charlotte
  • belle duke
  • escape
  • forced cooperation
Q4

What was the fake archeological discovery scheme?

Bang, Felix, and Charlotte staged a elaborate con where they presented worthless swampland as a genuine archaeological sensation containing valuable artifacts. They used real museum exhibits and Bang's old gang members to lend credibility, pitching the fake discovery to Belle Duke as a black market opportunity worth an astronomical price.

Foreshadowing: The trio's preparation draws on Bang's extensive criminal network and knowledge of how to make a con believable.

  • archaeological scam
  • swampland
  • museum exhibits
  • belle duke
  • con
Q5

Why did Felix pretend to kidnap Charlotte?

Felix staged a fake kidnapping of Charlotte to raise the stakes and convince Belle Duke that the archaeological discovery was genuine. By exploiting Bang's genuine distress at Charlotte's supposed abduction, the trio made their con more believable and pushed Belle Duke to commit more money to the scheme.

Foreshadowing: The fake kidnapping was a calculated escalation that built on the trust Belle Duke had developed in the scam.

  • kidnap
  • charlotte
  • felix
  • belle duke
  • con escalation
  • bluff
Q6

How did the fake police arrest work?

After Felix's escape boat appeared to crash and explode, police arrived at the scene to arrest Bang. However, the police squad was actually Bang's own con gang in disguise. The fake arrest was another layer of deception designed to throw Belle Duke off their trail and buy time for the next phase of their escape.

Foreshadowing: The double bluff echoes earlier moments where characters disguise their true identities and intentions.

  • fake arrest
  • police
  • bang
  • con gang
  • disguise
  • double bluff
Q7

What was the mannequin motorcycle trick during the escape?

After the fake police arrest ruse, Felix led a motorcycle escort away from the scene. The escort was actually composed of shop-window mannequins strapped to the motorcycles. This theatrical trick deceived Belle Duke's pursuers and bought the trio additional time to execute their airplane escape.

Foreshadowing: The use of mannequins reflects the film's recurring theme of using theatrical props and disguises to deceive.

  • mannequins
  • motorcycle
  • escape
  • felix
  • belle duke
  • decoy
Q8

How did Felix survive the boat explosion?

Felix did not actually die in the boat explosion. The crash and subsequent explosion were staged as part of the con. Felix had arranged the apparent death to give himself and the money time to disappear while Bang dealt with the fake police arrest, allowing the duo to later regroup and execute their final escape.

Foreshadowing: The explosive escape echoes earlier moments where characters use dramatic diversions to create opportunities.

  • felix
  • boat explosion
  • fake death
  • escape
  • con
  • survival
Q9

How did the trio escape by plane with the money?

After convincing Bang that the kidnapping was merely a ruse to mislead Belle Duke, the trio escaped aboard a single-engine airplane from a coastal airstrip. The escape happened while Belle Duke was still pursuing them, and they managed to take the 100 million Francs they had swindled from her.

Foreshadowing: The airplane escape represents the culmination of the team's elaborate planning and mutual trust.

  • airplane
  • escape
  • bang
  • felix
  • charlotte
  • belle duke
  • money
Q10

What was the final money bluff with the cash in the airplane?

In the film's climactic moment, Felix opened the plane door and let the 100 million Francs spill out into the wind, creating a dramatic visual. However, each bill was tied to a long line that Felix controlled, allowing him to reel all the money back in. This theatrical flourish served as one last triumphant bluff, keeping their fortune secure as they escaped.

Foreshadowing: The final bluff showcases Felix's characteristic showmanship and refusal to end a con without a dramatic flourish.

  • money
  • bluff
  • airplane
  • felix
  • 100 million francs
  • escape
  • finale

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

Similar movies to The Con Artists: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

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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