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Crime film

Without Apparent Motive (1971): Cast & Plot

Without Apparent Motive (1971) movie poster

Without Apparent Motive is a 1971 crime film directed by Philippe Labro, starring Jean-Louis Trintignant as Stéphane Carella, Michel Bardinet and Esmeralda Ruspoli. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes.

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Read the plot summary
Without Apparent Motive (1971) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Director
Philippe Labro
Genre
Crime
Original language
French
Studio
Cinétel
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Without Apparent Motive About?

The premise of Without Apparent Motive without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The story follows Commissaire Carella as he investigates a string of murders along the French Riviera in Nice. Each clue points to a different suspect, and the audience is invited to decide which of the characters will become the next victim and which is the murderer. Carella searches for the hidden connection linking the killings.

Without Apparent Motive Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • giallo
  • french giallo
  • gunsight
  • rape and revenge
  • rape
  • revenge
  • amateur theater
  • female topless nudity
  • police officer
  • plot
  • director cameo
  • france
+38 more
  • murder
  • french riviera
  • love for wife
  • revenge motive
  • gun in a briefcase
  • false bottom
  • traumatic experience
  • traumatic shock
  • rape victim
  • police interrogation
  • street sweeper
  • playwright
  • theater production
  • whistle
  • television host
  • television star
  • signing an autograph
  • blood analysis
  • blood stain
  • police detective
  • murder investigation
  • notebook
  • zodiac
  • red car
  • title appears in writing
  • newspaper headline
  • swiss bank account
  • astrologer
  • long rifle
  • death of husband
  • death of stepfather
  • 22 rifle
  • tv show
  • female nudity
  • sniper
  • cemetery
  • murder of girlfriend
  • blood
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Cast & crew

Without Apparent Motive Cast & Characters

Jean-Louis Trintignant leads the cast as Stéphane Carella, with Michel Bardinet as Tony Forest and Esmeralda Ruspoli as Madame Forest. Directed by Philippe Labro; 16 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Without Apparent Motive

· 12 more
From the director

More from Philippe Labro

More films directed by Philippe Labro: Rive droite, rive gauche, Cover Up, Hunter Will Get You and Chance and Violence.

Full filmography
Plot

Without Apparent Motive Plot Summary

What happens in Without Apparent Motive from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Unmarried police detective Carella, Jean-Louis Trintignant, finds himself drawn into a perplexing cascade of deaths that begins with a single, precise shot from a long-range 0.22 rifle, killing Forest, a prominent local businessman. The hit is stark and clinical, and the killer’s method—one shot, no obvious struggle—spreads fear through the town. The widow offers little help, and the case grows murkier as a second victim, Barroyer, is murdered later that same day in exactly the same manner. Across two shocking days, four lives are snuffed out, and the police push to understand how these men are connected, especially since the murders appear tied to a loose web of money laundering, narcotics, and prostitution, even as no clear motive emerges.

Full summary

The whole story of Without Apparent Motive, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Without Apparent Motive?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the unmarried police detective leading the investigation?
Details

Without Apparent Motive Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Ohne besonderes Tatmotiv” and “Without Apparant Motive”.

Also known as
  • Ohne besonderes Tatmotiv
  • Without Apparant Motive
  • 텐 플러스 원
  • Neun im Fadenkreuz
  • Senza movente
  • Без видимых причин
  • Bez motivu
  • Sin móvil aparente
  • Sem Motivo Aparente
  • 용기없는 범죄
  • 北回归线
  • Bez wyraźnych motywów
+2 more
  • Bez motívu
  • İpucu Yok

Seen Without Apparent Motive?
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Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Innocents with Dirty Hands, Without Warning! and The French Sex Murders.

FAQ

Without Apparent Motive FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Without Apparent Motive, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Without Apparent Motive?

Without Apparent Motive runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was Without Apparent Motive released?

Without Apparent Motive was released on September 15, 1971.

Who directed Without Apparent Motive?

Without Apparent Motive was directed by Philippe Labro.

More films by Philippe Labro

Who is in the cast of Without Apparent Motive?

Without Apparent Motive stars Jean-Louis Trintignant as Stéphane Carella, Michel Bardinet as Tony Forest and Esmeralda Ruspoli as Madame Forest, among 16 credited actors.

Does Without Apparent Motive have a post-credit scene?

No. Without Apparent Motive has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Without Apparent Motive in?

The original language of Without Apparent Motive is French.

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