The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1973) Plot Summary Explained

Webster is a divorced computer programmer who feels bored and unfulfilled with his ordinary life. After quitting his job, he decides to pursue burglary as a way to escape his mundane routine and embrace a more exciting, risky lifestyle. The summary describes him as having a sudden change of heart, trading his predictable career for a life of crime.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes his restlessness early, showing his desire to break free from conventional society before he commits to theft.

• Webster McGee
• boredom
• career change
• burglar motivation

Webster uses chess pieces and notes containing chess moves as his signature calling card. This reflects his strategic, intellectual approach to burglary, he sees each heist as a calculated game rather than simple theft. The chess motif becomes his branding, earning him the media nickname 'The Chess Burglar' and making his crimes easily recognizable.

Foreshadowing: The chess theme appears from his very first crime, establishing the pattern that defines his criminal identity throughout the film.

• chess pieces
• calling card
• signature
• crime scenes

After stealing files that could ruin Henderling's career, Webster uses them for leverage, but instead of demanding cash, he asks for an introduction to Houston's high society. He believes infiltrating the elite will give him access to wealthier targets and make future heists easier. It's a strategic move to elevate his criminal operations beyond petty theft.

Foreshadowing: Webster's ambition becomes clear early on, he doesn't just want money, he wants to operate at the highest level of Houston society.

• blackmail
• Henderling
• high society
• social access
• strategy

Webster meets Laura Keaton at a society function hosted by Henderling. They immediately fall in love, and Laura becomes his accomplice in burglarizing other wealthy members of Houston's elite. Her involvement transforms the operation from a solo endeavor into a partnership, with Laura using her social connections to help identify and access lucrative targets.

Foreshadowing: Their meeting occurs during the high-society events Webster orchestrated through blackmail, showing how his strategy opens personal doors.

• Laura Keaton
• romance
• partnership
• accomplice
• heists

Dave Reilly from Texas Mutual Insurance begins investigating the jewel thefts and quickly grows suspicious of Webster. Though he cannot find hard proof, the pattern of burglaries and Webster's suspicious behavior raise red flags. As an investigator, Dave is trained to recognize the signs of criminal activity, and Webster's sudden lifestyle change makes him a obvious suspect.

Foreshadowing: Dave's investigation runs parallel to Webster's crimes from the beginning, creating the cat-and-mouse tension that drives the narrative.

• Dave Reilly
• insurance investigator
• suspicion
• investigation

As Dave continues his investigation, he and Webster interact enough to develop a mutual respect that grows into an unlikely friendship. Even though Dave is certain Webster is the Chess Burglar, he comes to admire his intelligence, style, and the way he lives life on his own terms. This creates a complex dynamic where the hunter and his prey form a genuine connection.

Foreshadowing: The respect builds gradually through their encounters, showing how both men see something worthy in each other beyond their opposing roles.

• friendship
• mutual respect
• Dave Reilly
• relationship
• dynamic

As the story reaches its climax, Webster prepares for his biggest heist yet, targeting a $6 million diamond. This represents the culmination of his criminal career, the boldest burglary he has ever attempted. The heist forces both Dave and Webster to confront their conflicting loyalties, as Dave must decide whether to stop his friend or let the crime succeed.

Foreshadowing: Webster's escalating ambition throughout the film builds toward this final, most ambitious job.

• diamond
• biggest heist
• $6 million
• final job
• climax

The summary leaves the ending ambiguous, focusing on the climactic choice Dave must make rather than the outcome. As Webster executes his biggest heist, Dave faces a dilemma: stay loyal to his job and arrest his friend, or remain loyal to the personal connection they've formed. The film ends without revealing which path Dave chooses, keeping the resolution open.

Foreshadowing: The mutual respect and friendship built throughout the story directly leads to this moral dilemma at the climax.

• ending
• climax
• Dave choice
• arrest
• ambiguous

Webster's strategy focuses on robbing the wealthy upper class rather than ordinary homes. After gaining entry into high society through blackmailing Henderling, he uses his access to identify valuable targets among Houston's elite. His logic is that wealthy victims have more to lose, carry better insurance, and possess more valuable items, making each job more profitable and the risk worthwhile.

Foreshadowing: From his first burglary targeting Henderling, Webster shows his preference for wealthy targets over easy pickings.

• wealthy targets
• elite
• Houston
• upper class
• strategy

During his first major robbery of Gene Henderling, Webster steals files containing information that could ruin Henderling's career. These documents give Webster powerful leverage, not for money, but to force Henderling into introducing him to Houston's high society. The files represent the kind of damaging secrets that could destroy a wealthy man's reputation and business standing.

Foreshadowing: The files are the key to Webster's entire strategy, enabling his infiltration of elite circles.

• files
• Henderling
• blackmail
• documents
• leverage