Search Movie Plot Summaries & Endings Explained

Action · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Magnum Force (1973)

In a gritty San Francisco, Detective "Dirty Harry" Callahan investigates a vigilante group targeting criminals who have avoided justice through legal loopholes. As Callahan pursues the gang, he suspects a connection to a series of murders, and his investigation leads him to believe his former partner may be involved, forcing him to confront a deeply personal and dangerous situation.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Mixed ending

The Sting (1973)

Two seasoned con men, Fargo Gondorff and Jake Hooker, plan one last elaborate scheme. They join forces for a final heist, but their plans are complicated by Doyle Lonnegan, a formidable adversary and their longtime nemesis. The pair must use all their cunning and skill to navigate a dangerous world of deception and outwit their opponent in this thrilling sequel.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Bittersweet tone · Sad ending

The Five Days (1973)

In 1848 Milan, a thief and a baker witness the chaotic final days of the Italian Revolution.

Read the plot summary

Crime · Tense tone

The Laughing Policeman (1973)

The film feels startlingly authentic, making every other local production seem staged. A gunman opens fire on a crowded San Francisco city bus, killing Detective Dave Evans and the suspect he was tailing in a murder investigation. Evans’s partner, Sgt. Jake Martin, becomes obsessed with solving the case, relentlessly pursuing the shooter.

Read the plot summary

Sci-Fi · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

While studying dolphin communication in the Florida Keys, marine biologists Jake and Maggie Terrell find their research complicated by a disappearance. Their investigation leads them to the Franklin Foundation, revealing a dangerous plot to exploit the dolphins' intelligence. The foundation intends to use the dolphins for purposes that could destabilize the world, forcing Jake and Maggie to confront a sinister conspiracy and protect these intelligent creatures.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Amarcord (1973)

In a nostalgic Italian seaside town, adolescent Titta roams with his friends, stumbling into mischief while observing the town’s colorful eccentrics. He frequently clashes with his strict father but finds protection in his doting mother, and watches an array of characters—from extended relatives and fervent Fascist loyalists to alluring women—engage in absurd, sometimes surreal episodes that blend everyday life with fleeting fantasies.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Cinderella Liberty (1973)

At 32, she drinks heavily, hustles pool tables, and raises a ten‑year‑old mulatto son while cycling through a new boyfriend each night. In deep trouble, she meets a solitary Navy sailor on an extended liberty; his service records are missing, but he falls for the Seattle prostitute and steps in as a surrogate father to her child.

Read the plot summary

Sci-Fi · Whimsical tone · Bittersweet ending

Sleeper (1973)

In a dystopian future, health-food store owner Miles Monroe is accidentally cryogenically frozen during a routine medical procedure. Awakening two centuries later, he's rescued by rebels battling a repressive government. Thrust into a bizarre and unfamiliar world, Monroe’s outdated knowledge and reactions lead to comedic mishaps as he becomes an unlikely hero in the fight for liberation.

Read the plot summary

Biography · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Papillon (1973)

Henri Charriere, nicknamed "Papillon," and Louis Dega forge an unexpected friendship while incarcerated in French Guiana’s harsh penal colony. Driven by an unwavering desire for liberation, Papillon inspires Dega to join him in a risky escape plan. Their journey is fraught with danger, including brutal treatment, the challenges of survival in a remote and unforgiving landscape, and the ever-present possibility of discovery and recapture as they fight for their freedom.

Read the plot summary

Adventure · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

War Goddess (1973)

Alena Johnston plays Antione, the Amazon war goddess who must mate with Greek king Theseus to save her people, but she falls in love—a taboo for an Amazon queen. Directed by Terence Young and based on a story co‑written by Robert Graves, the sword‑and‑sandal film stars Rosanna Yanni, Helga Line and Luciana Paluzzi, with music by Riz Ortolani.

Read the plot summary

Family · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

A Very Merry Cricket (1973)

In this sequel, the beloved musical cricket returns to his bustling New York City home, reuniting with his loyal companions—a curious cat and a clever mouse—as they experience the holiday season together. Through festive adventures and heartfelt moments, the trio discovers the true spirit and meaning of Christmas.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

Superdad (1973)

When his teenage daughter begins a new romance and readies herself for college, a worried dad suspects she’s mingling with a bad crowd. Eager to earn her respect, he dives into her world, trying to look cool and protect her, which results in a string of awkward attempts to impress her before she heads off to college.

Read the plot summary

Family · Whimsical tone · Happy ending

Miracle on 34th Street (1973)

A department store Santa tries to convince a little girl who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus that he is Santa Claus, and winds up going on trial to prove who he is.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Seven-Ups (1973)

A gritty NYPD detective assigned to the Seven‑Ups, an elite unit that targets high‑speed, high‑risk crimes, hunts the killer of his partner. His investigation uncovers a conspiracy in which mobsters are being kidnapped for ransom, thrusting him into a dangerous underworld plot.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Bittersweet tone · Sad ending

The Last Detail (1973)

Two seasoned Navy officers, Billy Buddusky and Mule Mulhall, are assigned to transport troubled young sailor Larry Meadows to military prison. Instead of following protocol, they decide to give him a memorable farewell, indulging him with unexpected adventures and diversions. Their journey takes them to a brothel and eventually to Larry’s mother’s home, forging an unlikely bond between the sailors and the young man. As their camaraderie deepens, the officers grapple with their duty and the moral implications of their actions, questioning their loyalty and the harsh realities they face.

Read the plot summary

Horror · Dark tone

The Cat Creature (1973)

After a wealthy man's death, thieves steal two items from his collection: an ancient Egyptian gold amulet and the mummy that bore it. Police enlist university scholars to investigate, and the case grows darker when individuals linked to the theft are found murdered with wounds resembling cat scratches.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Bleak ending

Don't Look Now (1973)

Following a devastating loss, a couple seeks solace in Venice, hoping to mend their fractured relationship. While exploring the city's historic canals and architecture, the woman experiences unsettling visions and a growing sense of spiritual awareness. Her husband, struggling with his own grief, initially dismisses her concerns, but he too begins to question his beliefs as a disturbing presence emerges, blurring the lines between reality and illusion and putting their lives in danger.

Read the plot summary

Action · Bleak tone · Bleak ending

Iron Bodyguard (1973)

Wang Wu, an iron‑clad bodyguard, befriends a reformist scholar after they defeat a group of villains together. The scholar is part of a movement pushing social change in late‑Qing China. Although the emperor backs the reforms and appoints the scholars to govern, the Empress Dowager refuses to lose power, orders their arrest, and draws the reluctant Wang Wu into the ensuing political conflict.

Read the plot summary

Horror · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

The House That Vanished (1973)

When a young model named Valerie and her boyfriend, a small‑time thief, accidentally witness a murder in an isolated manor deep in the woods, they think they have escaped. Valerie manages to flee, only to discover the murderer is tracking her relentless, turning a remote hideaway into a terrifying cat‑and‑mouse chase.

Read the plot summary

Biography · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Serpico (1973)

In a city rife with corruption, idealistic Detective Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) challenges the established system. He exposes widespread bribery and cronyism within the police force, leading to isolation and dangerous repercussions from his colleagues. When his concerns are ignored, Serpico takes the courageous step of exposing the corrupt institution that once protected him, risking his career and his life in the process.

Read the plot summary

Thriller · Tense tone · Mixed ending

Hell Up In Harlem (1973)

The sequel to Black Caesar follows Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson), a fearless Harlem hustler who steals a ledger naming every crooked cop and crime boss. With his father's help and an army of thugs, Gibbs launches a violent campaign that spreads from Harlem to the Caribbean, ending in a turf‑war shoot‑out. The film mixes 1970s blaxploitation swagger with classic 1930s gangster drama, delivering nonstop gunfire and action.

Read the plot summary

Sci-Fi · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Horror Express (1973)

While traveling aboard the Trans-Siberian Express, a respected anthropologist and his colleague find themselves facing a terrifying ordeal. Passengers are falling victim to a mysterious, mind-controlling force as the train speeds through the harsh, frozen landscape. They must work together to uncover the source of the sinister threat and stop the escalating carnage before it consumes everyone on board.

Read the plot summary

Sci-Fi · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Fantastic Planet (1973)

On the planet Ygam, a precarious peace is shattered when a young Om, mentored by a benevolent Draag, ignites a rebellion among his people. As the Oms gain literacy and develop self-awareness, they begin to challenge the authority of their Draag masters. This leads to a conflict for control, jeopardizing the unique and fragile ecosystem of their extraordinary world and the future of both species.

Read the plot summary

Horror · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)

Within the opulent Frankenstein mansion, the aristocratic Baron and his depraved assistant Otto perfect a method for creating new life, filling the laboratory with stitched body parts. Meanwhile, the Baroness entices a randy new manservant. The permissive household spirals into an extravagant, bizarre, comic clash of death and dismemberment.

Read the plot summary

Adventure · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

The Holy Mountain (1973)

A mysterious alchemist leads a Christlike figure and seven self-absorbed individuals on a challenging quest to the legendary Holy Mountain. Their journey takes them through surreal and bizarre landscapes filled with dark humor and mystique. Along the way, they encounter ritualistic scenes that challenge conventional notions of piety and sacrilege, all while searching for spiritual discovery and confronting the pervasive nature of greed.

Read the plot summary

Horror · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)

He created the perfect man—then something went wrong. Victor Frankenstein witnesses his creation turn uncontrollable after he’s duped by his associate, Dr. Polidori.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Bleak tone · Bleak ending

Nirmalyam (1973)

Set against a crumbling ancient temple, the only caretaker is the village oracle, the Velichappadu. When the priest takes leave, a young outsider steps in to perform the rites and, during his duties, becomes close to the Velichappadu’s daughter, forging a tender relationship amid the temple’s decline.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Mean Frank and Crazy Tony (1973)

Frankie Diomede’s crime empire in Genoa is threatened when a French gangster encroaches on his turf. Frankie returns home, deliberately gets arrested to secure an alibi as murders mount, only to find his enemies keep him locked up and his crew dying. Meanwhile wannabe tough Tony Breda devises a jailbreak to free Frankie.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Melancholic tone · Ambiguous ending

I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse (1973)

After fleeing the police, Aden escapes into the desert and encounters an isolated hermit who possesses a mystical connection to Mother Earth. As they bond, Aden persuades the reclusive man to leave his solitude and accompany him on a journey toward the sprawling city, confronting both wilderness and civilization.

Read the plot summary

Action · Whimsical tone · Bittersweet ending

Pushing Up Daisies (1973)

After staging a bold, eccentric bank robbery dressed as nuns, half of a four‑person crew is captured and sent to a chain gang. Their armed partners break them out, freeing the entire gang. The leader then reveals a new scheme designed to secure the notoriety they all desire.

Read the plot summary

Action · Tense tone · Bleak ending

Westworld (1973)

Within Westworld, a technologically advanced theme park replicating the American West, wealthy guests fulfill their fantasies while interacting with incredibly realistic android hosts. When a system error occurs, the boundaries between human and artificial beings become indistinguishable, and the park descends into chaos. Two visitors, Blane and Martin, find their vacation turning into a terrifying fight for survival as they confront malfunctioning androids and the unsettling implications of their immersive experience.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Melancholic tone · Ambiguous ending

The Affair (1973)

She was thirty and no man had ever made love to Courtney Patterson…until tonight. A crippled lady songwriter meets an older lawyer who becomes her first love.

Read the plot summary

Animation · Light tone · Happy ending

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

Charlie Brown hosts a Thanksgiving feast that spirals into chaos when Peppermint Patty and her friends turn up demanding a turkey. With only cereal and toast on hand, Charlie seems doomed, but Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock rally to save the day. Amid turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, the Peanuts gang shows why gratitude and friendship make the holiday truly special.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Breezy (1973)

Frank Harmon, a divorced real estate agent, finds himself disconnected from romance. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Breezy, a vibrant and unconventional teenager. Her spirit reignites a spark within him, and they form an unlikely connection that challenges societal norms. As their bond deepens, they face disapproval and scrutiny from those who question their relationship.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Some Call It Loving (1973)

A singular, marketable performance unfolds when a jazz musician becomes obsessed with a comatose woman displayed at a carnival sideshow. He transports her to his opulent mansion, integrating her into his private collection of erotic oddities, creating a uniquely daring and unsettling tableau.

Read the plot summary

Mystery · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

Arnold (1973)

Arnold is dead, but his new wife Karen marries him at the funeral and stays by his coffin to claim his inheritance, insisting on a post‑mortem honeymoon. Meanwhile, a roster of oddball relatives who also covet Arnold’s fortune are eliminated in a series of creatively gruesome ways.

Read the plot summary

Music · Dark tone · Sad ending

Stardust (1973)

When a troupe of American soldiers passes through a small town, they seek a Broadway‑style entertainment, prompting two local professional dancers to showcase their talent. The dancers meet the soldiers’ expectations, delivering a dazzling performance, but as the troops must march northward, the fleeting triumph ends abruptly and sorrowfully.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

The Don Is Dead (1973)

A powerful mob boss has forged a criminal empire, only to see it toppled by his own passions. When his beloved mistress is slain, he launches a relentless, blood‑soaked pursuit of her assassin. As his vendetta intensifies, rival factions clash, igniting a gang war that threatens to consume the underworld.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Light tone · Mixed ending

Carry On Girls (1973)

Local councillor Sidney Fiddler convinces the mayor to stage a beauty pageant to boost the reputation of their dilapidated seaside town. Opposing him, Councillor Prodworthy, leader of the women’s liberation group, plots to undermine the event. Their clash turns the contest into a battle of ideals.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Fade In (1973)

A sophisticated Hollywood film editor, on location for a film she is working on, falls for a local cowboy who is hired to work on the film.

Read the plot summary