The Astrologer (1976) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie spans multiple locations across California, Kenya, Tahiti, and the Devil's Triangle. Craig begins his con artist career at a California carnival, then travels to Kenya for a jewel-smuggling scheme, and later operates in Tahiti before getting involved in a naval mystery tied to the Devil's Triangle.

• california
• kenya
• tahiti
• devils triangle
• settings
• locations
• carnival

The film explores three interconnected themes: Identity, as Craig blurs the line between his fake psychic persona and real abilities; Greed, showing how wealth and smuggling corrupt his ambitions; and Consequences, as his criminal choices lead to violence, imprisonment, and a inevitable downfall.

• themes
• identity
• greed
• consequences
• moral descent

Craig Alexander (real name Craig Denney) is the protagonist, a smooth-talking con man who poses as a psychic at a California carnival. He stumbles into real psychic abilities while executing a jewel-smuggling scheme in Kenya, eventually building a lucrative astrological broadcasting empire before his moral bankruptcy catches up with him.

• craig alexander
• craig denny
• protagonist
• psychic
• con man

Darrien (real name Darrien Earle) is Craig's girlfriend who disappears early in his criminal career. She later resurfaces as a sex worker, illustrating the vulnerability of those caught in the con artist's web. Her fate becomes intertwined with Craig's moral descent, and her eventual lover is killed by Craig in a fit of jealousy.

• darrien
• darryen
• girlfriend
• relationship

The movie depicts a world of international crime and deception, moving through carnival culture, dangerous foreign prisons, tropical settings for smuggling operations, and high-stakes naval intrigue. It's a dark, fast-paced narrative where showmanship and criminal ambition collide across multiple continents.

• setting
• world
• carnival
• crime
• international

After stealing a cache of legendary rubies in Kenya, Craig uses the gems to build a lucrative astrological broadcasting empire. His success is fueled by his fake psychic persona from the carnival, combined with the wealth from his criminal enterprises, though his meteoric rise ultimately leads to his downfall.

• broadcasting empire
• rubies
• wealth
• astrology
• fame

The Devil's Triangle frames a high-stakes naval mystery that ties Craig's world to a broader intrigue. A U.S. Navy Admiral (Donald Davies) becomes connected to Craig's later success as they work together to locate a ship missing in the Devil's Triangle, adding a national-security backdrop to the con artist's career.

• devils triangle
• admiral
• us navy
• ship mystery

The film is rated HIGH in intensity due to constant crime, violence, and peril including murder, imprisonment, and confrontations. The DARK tone stems from themes of deception, exploitation, and a protagonist whose ambition leads to moral bankruptcy. The BLEAK ending strips Craig of his false identity and underscores the hollowness of his achievements.

• dark tone
• intensity
• crime
• violence
• bleak ending

The African Chief (Solomon Mathenge) is a tribal leader in Kenya whom Craig and his companions bribe to reveal the location of hidden jewels. His role highlights the risks and corruption involved in cross-cultural dealings and the pursuit of material gain in the international diamond-smuggling plot.

• african chief
• solomon mathenge
• kenya
• tribal leader
• bribe

While not explicitly stated, the 1976 release and references to broadcasting technology and international travel suggest a contemporary setting. The story follows modern-era crime across multiple continents, from carnival scams to international smuggling operations.

• time period
• era
• 1970s
• contemporary setting

James Moore is a carnival assistant who serves as Craig's sidekick from the carnival days. He provides camaraderie and represents a cautionary counterpoint to Craig's meteoric rise, echoing the dangerous humor and real-world stakes behind showbiz hustles.

• james moore
• carnival assistant
• sidekick
• hustler

The Identity theme explores how Craig crafts personas to gain power, then faces dangerous choices and shifting loyalties that test those personas. The boundary between his fake psychic act and real psychic moments blurs, raising questions about what it means to be oneself when deception can pay off.

• identity
• persona
• deception
• performance
• reality