Search Movie Plot Summaries & Endings Explained

Horror · Dark tone · Ambiguous ending

A Candle for the Devil (1973)

Spine-chilling suspense! Two sisters running a small hotel in Spain kill female tourists whose morals do not meet their strict religious standards.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Shamus (1973)

Shamus is a hard‑boiled private detective who spends his time shooting pool, playing cards and chasing women. When millions in diamonds are stolen from a New York City safe and the burglar is subsequently killed, the owner hires Shamus for $10,000 to locate the missing gems or bring the killer to justice.

Read the plot summary

Action · Tense tone · Mixed ending

Birds of Prey (1973)

Harry Walker, a former military pilot who now flies helicopters and delivers traffic reports for a Salt Lake City radio station, spots a daring bank robbery and the abduction of a young bank employee. Determined to stop the criminals, he pursues them across the city, culminating in a tense and exciting showdown.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Last Tango in Paris (1973)

In Paris, a grieving American expatriate, Paul, seeks comfort in a passionate and anonymous relationship with a young French woman named Jeanne. Their intense physical connection unfolds against the backdrop of the City of Love, as they attempt to escape personal tragedies and find solace in each other. However, as their affair deepens, unresolved emotional burdens and unspoken vulnerabilities begin to surface, threatening to shatter their fragile connection.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Sad ending

Black Mama White Mama (1973)

Two very different women, Lee Daniels and Karen Brent, find themselves unexpectedly allied after being imprisoned. Daniels, a black market prostitute, and Brent, a political activist, must overcome their initial dislike to survive after their prison bus is hijacked. They escape into a dangerous landscape, pursued by bounty hunters, corrupt police officers, and revolutionaries. Their fight for freedom tests their loyalty and forces them to confront their own demons in a struggle for redemption.

Read the plot summary

Crime · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Shock Treatment (1973)

Hélène Masson travels to a remote rejuvenation clinic to see her friend Gérôme Savignat, run by Dr. Devilers and Dr. Berbard. When a series of tragic incidents occur, she delves deeper, uncovering the clinic’s dark secrets and the true purpose of the experiments.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Melancholic tone · Sad ending

Ludwig (1973)

From his 1864 coronation to his 1886 death, the film shows Ludwig as a controversial ruler who pursued women and men, ignoring public opinion. He admired Richard Wagner—later spurned and fell hopelessly for his cousin Elisabeth of Austria, whose rejection fuels his turmoil. Haunted by his sexuality, he descends into madness, a tragic romantic saga.

Read the plot summary

Mystery · Dark tone · Mixed ending

The Night Strangler (1973)

After being driven out of Las Vegas, reporter Carl Kolchak takes a job at a Seattle newspaper. He soon discovers a pattern of bizarre murders: every 21 years for the past century a killer drains victims’ blood and vanishes into night. Kolchak races to track the serial killer and stop the next blood‑bath.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Bittersweet tone · Happy ending

Raja Rani (1973)

After his mother’s death, the boy Raja is drawn into crime, growing into a hardened thief. Years later, seeking freedom, he concocts a marriage as a clever escape scheme, only to be apprehended shortly thereafter, forcing him to confront the consequences of his choices.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Dark tone · Bleak ending

Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1973)

In the teeming black markets of postwar Japan, Shozo Hirono and his buddies find themselves in a new war between factious and ambitious yakuza.

Read the plot summary

Horror · Dark tone · Sad ending

Psychomania (1973)

The Dead Still Ride… the Living Howl in Terror! A gang of youngsters calling themselves the Living Dead terrorize their small town. They strike a pact with the devil, convinced that suicide performed with absolute belief will grant them eternal life. One after another, urged by their leader, they so kill themselves, to find immortality never comes.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Garm Hava (1973)

In the aftermath of Partition, the turbulence of a divided nation mirrors the inner turmoil of a Muslim businessman and his family. As they navigate a new India that was once theirs, they fight to reclaim their rights and a sense of belonging amid lingering resentment and uncertainty.

Read the plot summary

Thriller · Tense tone · Mixed ending

Death Carries a Cane (1973)

Screaming can’t save you from his steely blade. In Rome, photographer Kitty witnesses a young woman being murdered by a razor‑wielding killer wearing a black glove. She and her fiancé Alberto report the crime, only to discover that two other witnesses have already been brutally slashed to death, leaving the investigation in terrifying jeopardy.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Kaadu (1973)

A rural drama about the rivalry between two villages as seen through the eyes of a young boy, Kitti.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Light tone · Happy ending

White Cargo (1973)

Five years before his famous turn opposite Graham Chapman in ‘The Odd Job’, David Jason headline‑stars this very low‑budget comedy as a dreamy protagonist who is swept into a wild adventure alongside the underrated Imogen Hassall. Produced on a shoestring budget, the film also features a pre‑Darth‑Vader appearance by Dave Prowse, whose role echoes his gritty character from the TV series ‘Callan’, adding a touch of familiar toughness.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

Heera Panna (1973)

Heera devotes himself to two loves: Reema, an airline stewardess, and his photography. After Reema is killed in a plane crash, photography becomes his sole focus. While shooting for Raja Saab, a priceless diamond is stolen by Panna and hidden in Heera’s car. When Heera learns of the theft, he decides to turn Panna over to the police, only to discover she is Reema’s younger sister.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Whimsical tone · Mixed ending

Ghost in the Noonday Sun (1973)

After discovering the location of his captain’s hidden treasure, a pirate crewman murders him to claim the loot. As his memory begins to fade, he becomes increasingly dependent on the spectral presence of the very captain he killed, whose ghost offers cryptic guidance in his desperate search for the buried riches.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Dark tone · Bleak ending

The Last Italian Tango (1973)

She secretly serves her lover the finest food while feeding her husband only scraps, concealing the affair in the attic. When the husband discovers the betrayal, he abandons her, moving in with a young woman who pulls him into a twisted, sadomasochistic relationship.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Light tone · Bittersweet ending

The Lovers! (1973)

Richard Beckinsale and Paula Wilcox reprise their TV roles as Geoffrey Scrimshaw and Beryl Battersby, an inexperienced couple dealing with the sexual freedoms of 1970s Manchester. In Jack Rosenthal’s sitcom turned film, Beryl’s views clash with Geoffrey’s clumsy attempts at intimacy, “Percy Filth,” as they try to grasp love in an era of social change.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

The Belstone Fox (1973)

Based on the novel “The Ballad of the Belstone Fox,” this heart‑warming film follows a clever fox who outwits the hunters determined to capture him. Using cunning and daring, the fox repeatedly evades the dogs, turning each chase into a battle of wits that never ends in his capture.

Read the plot summary

Animation · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

Arrow to the Sun (1973)

An animated retelling of a Pueblo tale, in which a mysterious boy seeks his father.

Read the plot summary

Crime · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)

Since 1972, the series has been slicing through patriarchy. After being used and betrayed by the detective she loved, young Matsu is transferred to a harsh women’s prison ruled by sadistic guards and defiant inmates, forcing her to confront brutal authority and survive the hostile environment.

Read the plot summary

Action · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

Fear Is the Key (1972)

A seasoned deep‑sea salvage specialist, still haunted by a betrayal, devises an intricate scheme to penetrate a ruthless criminal syndicate responsible for his suffering. Harnessing fear as his most potent weapon, he maneuvers through treacherous waters and covert threats to exact vengeance.

Read the plot summary

Thriller · Dark tone · Bittersweet ending

The Godfather’s Friend (1972)

Richard Harrison is the Mob hit man who finds friendships can get you into trouble when he meets an old buddy who turns out to be part of an opposing family!

Read the plot summary

Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

The Heartbreak Kid (1972)

Newlywed Lenny finds his dream tropical honeymoon turned upside down when he meets the captivating Kelly. His initial excitement quickly gives way to doubts about his recent marriage, as he becomes increasingly drawn to Kelly's charm. Torn between his commitment and a burgeoning attraction, Lenny must navigate the complexities of his feelings and the challenges to his newfound marital bliss.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Melancholic tone · Bittersweet ending

Cries and Whispers (1972)

In a stark red‑walled mansion, four women dressed in white move through rooms filled with lingering whispers and muted cries. As Agnes, the eldest, slowly succumbs to terminal cancer, her two sisters and the housemaid are each trapped in their own deep, unspoken anguish, leaving them unable to give her the comfort she desperately needs.

Read the plot summary

Crime · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Outside Man (1972)

Killing the most powerful figure in an organized‑crime syndicate guarantees a lifetime of retaliation. A French contract killer is recruited by one crime family to eliminate a rival mobster, but when the family’s boss who hired him is murdered, his mission unravels, thrusting him into a chaotic power struggle.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Hopeful tone · Happy ending

The Adventures of Pinocchio (1972)

Mastro Geppetto, a poor carpenter without a wife or children, leads a solitary life. After exchanging a piece of wood with his fellow craftsman Mastro Ciliegia, he decides to carve a wooden puppet, hoping the creation will give him the companionship he longs for.

Read the plot summary

Action · Bleak tone · Bleak ending

Across 110th Street (1972)

Stealing $300,000 from the Italian mob isn’t just a heist—it’s a death sentence. A bold robbery leaves several mafiosi and two police officers dead, prompting NYPD Lieutenant Pope and Captain Mattelli to pursue the case. Meanwhile three low‑level crooks flee with the cash, hunted by both the relentless mafia and the police.

Read the plot summary

Romance · Light tone · Happy ending

Avanti! (1972)

When a stranger knocks and says “permesso?” the reply “Avanti!” sets off a far‑cical journey. A prosperous businessman travels to Italy to repatriate his powerful father’s corpse, only to learn the tycoon died in the arms of a long‑standing mistress, turning the somber task into a surprising family discovery.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Bittersweet tone · Ambiguous ending

Pete ’n’ Tillie (1972)

After a whirlwind romance, a carefree bachelor finally wins the heart of his secretary and marries her, only to discover that the honeymoon quickly fades. Their marriage is tested when his habit of flirting and infidelity resurfaces, challenging the couple’s trust and commitment.

Read the plot summary

Comedy · Whimsical tone · Ambiguous ending

Travels with My Aunt (1972)

When his mother’s funeral introduces him to his eccentric Aunt Augusta—a glamorous dame who blends style and grace with smuggling, hustling, gambling and swindling—stoic bank clerk Henry Pulling is drawn into a whirlwind adventure. Augusta’s shady scheme to rescue an old lover drags Henry deeper into her criminal world.

Read the plot summary

Drama · Bittersweet tone · Bittersweet ending

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)

In the frontier town of Vinegaroon, a former outlaw seeks redemption by establishing himself as Judge Roy Bean, a self-appointed arbiter of justice. With the assistance of a young Mexican girl, he brings prosperity to the community through unconventional methods. As Vinegaroon flourishes under his rule, Judge Bean’s authority is challenged, and his carefully constructed world faces the threat of collapse.

Read the plot summary

Animation · Light tone · Happy ending

Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies (1972)

Daffy Duck is in Hollywood producing a movie about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Read the plot summary

Horror · Dark tone · Mixed ending

The Gore Gore Girls (1972)

In screaming color A ditsy reporter enlists the help of a sleazy private eye to solve a series of gory killings of female strippers at a Chicago nightclub.

Read the plot summary

Animation · Light tone · Happy ending

Journey Back to Oz (1972)

Dorothy and Toto return to the magical Land of Oz, where they discover the Scarecrow has become mayor of the Emerald City. The new ruler soon faces the scheming witch Mombi, who plots to seize the city. With the Tin Woodsman, the Cowardly Lion and other familiar friends, Dorothy embarks on a musical cartoon adventure to thwart Mombi and save Oz.

Read the plot summary

War · Light tone · Happy ending

Our Miss Fred (1972)

Danny La Rue leads a 1970s drag comedy as Fred Wimbush, a Shakespearean actor conscripted during World II. While performing in a French army camp show, the Nazi advance forces him to remain in his female disguise, lest he be executed as a spy. He faces risqué gags and double entendres while escaping, aided by a troupe of Girl Guides.

Read the plot summary

Family · Light tone · Happy ending

Tintin and the Lake of Sharks (1972)

Tintin is assigned to protect Professor Calculus, who has built a device capable of duplicating any object, while the professor stays in a remote village on the border between Syldavia and Bodouria. The notorious criminal Rastapopoulous seeks the invention and kidnaps two local children to force Calculus and Tintin to hand it over, leading to a suspenseful pursuit.

Read the plot summary

Action · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Getaway (1972)

Bank robber Doc McCoy is eager to escape prison and makes a deal with Sheriff Beynon: rob another bank in exchange for his freedom. However, the heist doesn’t go as planned, and tensions rise between McCoy and his fellow thieves. He soon discovers that he cannot fully trust those around him, leading to a dangerous and unpredictable situation.

Read the plot summary

Action · Tense tone · Bittersweet ending

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

During a New Year's Eve celebration, the luxury ocean liner SS Poseidon is struck by a massive rogue wave, capsizing the vessel. A small group of survivors, led by a resourceful former merchant marine, must fight to navigate the upside-down ship’s flooded and collapsing passageways. They face perilous obstacles and dwindling hope as they attempt to escape the crushing depths of the ocean and reach the overturned hull, their only chance for survival.

Read the plot summary