The Organization

The Organization

Year: 1971

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: English

Director: Don Medford

CrimeDramaMysteryActionThriller

An incorruptible detective dares to confront the shadowy criminal network known as “The Organization.” When a band of idealistic youths infiltrates a corporation’s headquarters and confiscates $5 million of heroin to keep it off the streets, they turn to San Francisco Police Lieutenant Virgil Tibbs, who launches a determined effort to bring the syndicate down.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Organization yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Organization (1971)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Organization (1971). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 1970s

The story takes place in a contemporary 1970s setting, reflecting urban crime and social tensions of the era. Investigations move through offices, streets, and construction sites, underscoring a period of upheaval and reform in American cities.

Location

San Francisco, California, Montgomery Street Station construction site

The events unfold in San Francisco, centered around a break-in at a corporate headquarters and the city’s hidden drug network. The unfinished Montgomery Street Station construction site provides a tense backdrop for chases and confrontations. The urban landscape of the city frames the clash between law enforcement, revolutionaries, and criminal enterprises.

🗺️ Urban 🏙️ City 🏢 Corporate

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:39

Main Characters – The Organization (1971)

Meet the key characters of The Organization (1971), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier)

A principled and resourceful detective who is drawn into a complex plot involving a break-in and a drug-front operation. He navigates tension with his superiors, forges uneasy alliances with revolutionaries, and uses his intelligence to uncover the truth while facing significant personal risk.

🕵️‍♂️ Detective ⚖️ Justice 💡 Clever

Juan Mendoza (Raúl Juliá)

A cunning member of the revolutionary group who engages the drug dealers and orchestrates exchange schemes to leverage the gang and expose the organization. He operates with risk-taking and strategic thinking.

🪧 Activist 💡 Strategist 🔎 Networking

Mrs. Morgan (Sheree North)

A civilian connected to the case who becomes a focal point of suspicion as the investigation searches for links to the drug operation. Her actions reflect fear, vulnerability, and potential complicity.

👩‍⚖️ Suspect 🧩 Key Witness 🏃‍♀️ Fearful

Sgt. Chassman (Daniel J. Travanti)

A police sergeant whose role reveals the tensions within the investigation and the pressures of enforcing the law within a flawed system. He embodies institutional hurdles that Tibbs must navigate.

👮 Police 🧭 Authority 🧠 Pragmatic

André (Oscar Beregi Jr.)

A senior figure within the criminal network, symbolizing the organized leadership behind the drug trafficking. He embodies the calculated, entrenched opposition Tibbs seeks to dismantle.

🕯️ Leader 💼 Criminal 🧠 Calculating

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:39

Major Themes – The Organization (1971)

Explore the central themes of The Organization (1971), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💼 Power & Corruption

The plot reveals how corporate fronts can mask illegal activity, with the pursuit of money and control driving both crime and police work. Tibbs navigates a system where authority is questioned and moral lines blur as he probes beneath the surface of the organization.

🤝 Complicity & Loyalty

Characters align with or oppose the revolutionary group and law enforcement, testing loyalties and showing how individuals justify questionable alliances for personal or collective goals.

⚔️ Violence & Consequences

Brutal acts, murders, and mob violence propel the narrative, illustrating how violence escalates as truth is sought and witnesses are placed at risk.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:39

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Gritty 70s Police Procedurals like The Organization

Fast-paced crime stories set against the bleak urban landscapes of the 1970s.If you liked the tense, realistic feel of The Organization, explore more movies like it. This collection features fast-paced 1970s crime thrillers and police procedurals that capture a similar mood of urban grit, systemic corruption, and high-stakes investigative action.

grittytensesuspensefulrealisticbleakdeterminedanxious

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a dedicated investigator or detective navigating a complex, often corrupt system. The plot is propelled by a central case that exposes larger societal rot, leading to high-tension confrontations. The endings are often bittersweet or morally ambiguous, underscoring the difficulty of achieving true justice.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a distinct visual and narrative aesthetic rooted in the 1970s. They combine a fast pace with a tense, gritty tone, high intensity action, and a heavy emotional weight centered on the grim realities of crime and justice.

Movies with Bittersweet Endings About Corruption like The Organization

Stories where fighting the system leads to a sobering, incomplete victory.Discover films with endings similar to The Organization. If you appreciated its sobering conclusion about the endless fight against crime, you'll find more movies here featuring moral ambiguity, hollow victories, and heavy themes of idealism clashing with cynical reality.

soberinggrimdeterminedtensemoral ambiguitycynicalheavy

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an idealistic or determined individual or group challenging a powerful, corrupt entity. The plot builds through high-stakes confrontations, but the climax reveals the limits of their power. The resolution acknowledges a small win but emphasizes the enduring nature of the corruption, leaving characters and viewers with a sense of grim acceptance.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their shared thematic focus on the futility of completely defeating systemic evil. They blend high intensity with a heavy emotional weight and consistently deliver a bittersweet or bleak ending feel, creating a profoundly sobering viewing experience.

Unlock the Full Story of The Organization

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Organization in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Organization is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Organization Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Organization, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Organization Summary

The Organization Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Organization with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Organization Timeline

The Organization Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Organization that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Organization Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Organization

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Organization: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Organization

Similar Movies to The Organization

Discover movies like The Organization that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.