The Split

The Split

Year: 1968

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Gordon Flemyng

ActionCrime

Having just lifted half a million dollars in plain view of a hundred‑thousand onlookers, the crew is still riding the high of their bold score. Their next challenge is a meticulously planned heist targeting a packed football stadium, where the stakes and the audience are even larger.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Split (1968)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Split (1968). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles Coliseum, Port of Los Angeles/Docks, Los Angeles

The primary action centers on the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the heist unfolds during a football game, creating a high-energy backdrop of spectators and security. The investigation and aftermath move through the city’s gritty spaces, including a landlord’s building, a wire-controlled vault, and the docks by the harbor. The settings contrast public spectacle with private, claustrophobic locales as the plot spirals toward betrayal and violence.

🏟️ Stadium 🌆 City 🕵️ Crime

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:02

Main Characters – The Split (1968)

Meet the key characters of The Split (1968), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

McClain

The mastermind behind the caper, he tests each recruit to gauge their mettle and loyalty. He keeps the plan flexible, manipulating partners to ensure he gets his share. His confidence hides a willingness to resort to violence to secure the loot.

🧠 Mastermind 💸 Greed 🎭 Manipulation

Gladys (Julie Harris)

Financier of the robbery who funds the operation, she exerts control over the crew and calculates risks. Her stake in the haul makes her as dangerous as any enforcer, navigating the crew’s dynamics to protect her interests.

💰 Financier 🤝 Partner 🎭 Strategist

Bert Clinger (Ernest Borgnine)

A tough, hot-headed thug who wields force to intimidate and enforce the plan. His volatility adds risk and sparks conflicts, pushing the crew toward violence.

💪 Enforcer 🗡️ Violent

Marty Gough (Warren Oates)

Electrical expert coerced into helping the crew; an essential player during the escape. He demonstrates ingenuity under pressure, balancing technical skill with a willingness to take risks.

🧰 Technician 🧠 Strategist

Dave Negli (Donald Sutherland)

A meticulous marksman whose precision drives the heist’s execution. Cool under pressure, he contributes tactical skill and serves as a dangerous wildcard when plans shift.

🎯 Marksman ⚖️ Precision

Ellie Kennedy (Diahann Carroll)

McClain’s ex-wife who becomes entangled in the aftermath as the money is hidden and misused. Her presence highlights the personal costs of crime and vulnerability within a dangerous world.

💔 Victim 💡 Catalyst

Lt. Walter Brill (Gene Hackman)

The determined investigator who pursues the case and navigates moral complexities in the pursuit of justice. His actions shape the investigation and the crew’s fate.

🕵️ Detective 🧭 Investigator

Herb Sutro (James Whitmore)

The landlord who murders Ellie and steals the money, becoming a volatile factor within the crime network. His violence destabilizes the crew and accelerates the plot’s collision course.

⚔️ Antagonist 🧨 Corruption

Harry Kifka (Jim Brown)

The getaway driver who is pushed by McClain’s demands. He embodies risk-taking and physical prowess, often acting as the crew’s wild card toward the finale.

🚗 Driver 🎯 Sharpshooter

Mason (Warren Vanders)

A gang member whose loyalty wavers as tensions rise and money disappears. His choices reflect the fragility of camaraderie under greed and pressure.

🕵️‍♂️ Suspicion 🗡️ Intrigue

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:02

Major Themes – The Split (1968)

Explore the central themes of The Split (1968), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed drives the heist and the chaos after the money disappears. The promise of over half a million dollars tempts each member, testing loyalties and escalating conflicts. Trust dissolves as individuals scheme to reclaim a larger share, leading to betrayals and bloodshed. The pursuit of wealth exposes fragile relationships and moral boundaries.

🤝 Betrayal

Betrayal marks the crew’s dynamics from the planning to the aftermath. Money goes missing, alliances shift, and suspicions mount, pushing members to consider turning on one another. The murder of Ellie intensifies the sense that no one is safe from betrayal. The climax hinges on who remains loyal when the payout is elusive.

🔎 Investigation

Lt. Walter Brill leads the pursuit, tying the crime to the gang and unraveling the web of loyalties. The investigation tests discipline and moral compromises as Brill closes in on the money. Tension builds toward a decisive showdown at the docks, where justice and desperation collide.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:02

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The Split Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Split, 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 Split Summary

The Split Timeline

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The Split Timeline

More About The Split

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More About The Split

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