What Is Crime and Passion About?
The premise of Crime and Passion in 312 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the glittering yet cut‑throat world of high finance, a seasoned schemer walks a razor‑thin line between ambition and betrayal. André Ferren has built his reputation on manipulating markets and relationships, treating both money and love as interchangeable assets. When an opportunity to secure a massive influx of cash presents itself, he persuades his own mistress to marry a reclusive, affluent industrialist, hoping the union will turn profit into power. The story unfolds against a backdrop of sleek boardrooms and the stark, snow‑capped peaks of a remote Alpine enclave, where wealth feels as cold and immutable as the mountain stone.
Susan Winters is as sharp and self‑possessed as the woman who can navigate both the glitter of high society and the shadows of secret liaisons. Her partnership with André is founded on a fragile balance of affection and calculation, each aware that loyalty is a luxury they can rarely afford. Opposite them stands Hermann Rolf, a charismatic yet inscrutable magnate whose immense fortune and commanding presence have turned his private castle into a symbol of untouchable influence. The dynamics among the trio pulse with a mixture of seduction, rivalry, and a relentless pursuit of advantage, setting the tone for a game where every smile may mask a hidden agenda.
As the newly forged marriage settles into a life of opulent isolation, whispers of ulterior motives begin to surface. The industrialist’s revelations hint at a perilous scheme that could turn the carefully orchestrated plan into a high‑stakes gamble with far‑reaching consequences. Surrounded by lavish interiors, surveillance‑laden corridors, and the unforgiving Alpine wilderness, the characters find themselves caught in a web of intrigue that tests the limits of trust and ambition. The atmosphere is thick with tension, a blend of sophisticated elegance and simmering danger, leaving the audience to wonder just how far each player will go to protect—or claim—their share of the prize.
What Happens in Crime and Passion?
The complete story of Crime and Passion, from the first scene to the last, in 414 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
André Ferren, [Omar Sharif], learns from his girlfriend and co-worker Susan Winters, [Karen Black], that the brokerage magnate Hermann Rolf, [Bernhard Wicki], not only wants to replace André but asked Susan on a date. Susan agrees on the condition that Rolf entrusts his fortune to André as a gift. Weeks later, Rolf and Susan are married at Rolf’s castle in the Swiss Alps. André vows to create a financial scandal that will ruin Rolf and she can divorce him.
André is then accused by the top executives at the brokerage firm of stealing $2.5 million from Rolf’s account. He is given ten days to return the money or go to prison. André drives to a ski resort where Susan is having an affair with Larry, a ski instructor. André explains to Susan that he is being framed. A skier attempts to murder André with a ski pole, but André falls and the other skier dies instead. That night, Susan informs André that they cannot be seen together or Rolf will divorce her, and explains that Rolf murdered all his ex-wives.
André survives several more attempts on his life as he follows Susan and Larry to Rolf’s castle, including an episode at a village inn where a woman attempts to strangle him. Eventually André sneaks into the castle, where he is imprisoned by a sword-wielding Larry. Susan asks Larry to drive her Maserati Indy to Switzerland and deliver a letter to a banker. In the process of doing so, he passes Rolf’s Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, and Rolf’s manservant Henkel shoots, causing the Maserati to explode.
Susan shoots a man in a suit of armor attempting to stab André through the cell bars; lifting the visor reveals the face of the innkeeper. Susan then begins noticing hidden surveillance cameras throughout the castle as Rolf sends Henkel on foot to kill André. Susan tells Rolf through one of the cameras that her feelings have changed. She then tells André to make love to her and smashes the camera, bringing a tear to Rolf’s eye as he watches surveillance footage from inside the Rolls-Royce. Henkel locks the castle gates and hides in a mortar, but is shot out of it when Susan pulls the lanyard. Rolf gets drunk, falls down a ravine and walks through the snow.
The next morning, Susan and André lie in bed and realize that Rolf had set them up in a scheme to murder them. Meanwhile, Rolf has frozen to death standing up.
Crime and Passion Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Rolf's plan and Susan's arrangement” to “Morning revelation and aftermath”. 15 events name a place, across 13 locations.
- 1
Rolf's plan and Susan's arrangement
André Ferren learns that Hermann Rolf, his biggest client, intends to replace him at the brokerage. Rolf asks Susan Winters on a date, signaling a bid for control. Susan agrees to marry Rolf on the condition that Rolf entrusts his fortune to André as a gift, setting the stage for a calculated power shift.
When:Day Where:Brokerage firm office
- 2
Marriage at the Swiss Alps castle
Weeks later, Rolf and Susan marry at Rolf's castle in the Swiss Alps. André watches from afar and vows to expose a financial scandal that will ruin Rolf. The arrangement foreshadows the deception that follows.
When:Weeks later Where:Rolf's castle, Swiss Alps
- 3
Accusation and deadline
André is accused by the firm's top executives of stealing $2.5 million from Rolf's account. He is given ten days to return the money or face prison. The accusation launches a dangerous race to uncover the true culprit and protect Susan's position with Rolf.
When:Ten days Where:Brokerage firm offices
- 4
Trip to the ski resort and Susan's affair
André travels to a ski resort where Susan is having an affair with Larry, a ski instructor. He confronts Susan and insists that he is being framed. The emotional tension thickens as trust and motive collide with the mounting threat.
When:Day Where:Ski resort
- 5
First assassination attempt
A skier attempts to murder André with a ski pole, but André falls and the other skier dies. The failed attempt demonstrates that someone will kill to protect the frame. André's peril increases as the pursuit intensifies toward Rolf's castle.
When:That day Where:Ski resort slopes
- 6
That night: Susan's warning and Rolf's secret
That night, Susan warns André that they cannot be seen together or Rolf will divorce her. She reveals that Rolf murdered all his ex-wives, heightening the danger surrounding them. The revelation forces Susan to reevaluate her loyalties and fuel their fragile alliance.
When:Night Where:Ski resort cabin
- 7
Pursuit to Rolf's castle and inn encounter
André survives several more attempts on his life as he follows Susan and Larry toward Rolf's castle. Their journey includes a tense stop at a village inn where a woman attempts to strangle him. The increasingly precarious pursuit tightens the conspiracy around the couple.
When:Evening Where:Village inn; route to castle
- 8
Castle infiltration and imprisonment
Once at the castle, André sneaks inside only to be imprisoned by a sword-wielding Larry. The danger within the fortress intensifies as Susan's and Rolf's schemes intersect. The capture sets the stage for further twists in the plot.
When:Night Where:Rolf's castle
- 9
Maserati drive and explosion
Susan asks Larry to drive her Maserati Indy to Switzerland and deliver a letter to a banker. On the road, he passes Rolf's Rolls-Royce and Henkel shoots, causing the Maserati to explode. The explosion removes a key link in the plan and escalates tensions inside the castle and beyond.
When:Evening Where:Between castle and Switzerland; road
- 10
Armor confrontation
Susan shoots a man in a suit of armor attempting to stab André through the cell bars. When the visor is lifted, the innkeeper's face is revealed. The moment exposes another layer of deception within the castle.
When:Night Where:Castle
Show the other 5 events of Crime and Passion Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Surveillance cameras and shifting loyalties
Susan becomes aware of hidden surveillance cameras throughout the castle as Rolf orders Henkel to kill André. She tells Rolf through one camera that her feelings have changed. The moment marks a turning point in their relationship and the power dynamic within the fortress.
When:Night Where:Castle corridors
- 12
Camera sabotage and Rolf's reaction
In a bold move, she tells André to make love to her and then smashes the camera, drawing a tear from Rolf as he watches from inside the Rolls-Royce. The act signals a decisive shift in loyalties and destabilizes Rolf's control over the fortress.
When:Night Where:Castle corridors
- 13
Henkel locks gates and is shot
Henkel locks the castle gates and hides in a mortar, waiting to strike. Susan pulls the lanyard, and he is shot. The fortress's defenses crumble as the internal sabotage accelerates.
When:Night Where:Castle
- 14
Rolf's death in the snow
Rolf gets drunk, falls down a ravine and wanders through the snowy night. The fatal fall ends the mastermind's control over the plot. The immediate danger for André and Susan begins to ease.
When:Night Where:Snowy ravine near castle
- 15
Morning revelation and aftermath
The next morning, Susan and André lie in bed and realize that Rolf had set them up to murder him. They discover that Rolf has frozen to death standing up. The film closes on their cautious relief as they contemplate a fragile future after surviving the scheme.
When:Morning Where:Castle interior / snow outside
Who Are the Main Characters in Crime and Passion?
6 characters, among them Susan Winters (Karen Black), André Ferren (Omar Sharif) and Rolf (Bernhard Wicki): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Susan Winters (Karen Black)
Played by Karen Black
Susan is André's girlfriend and coworker who navigates a high-stakes game of wealth and loyalty. She agrees to marry Rolf on the condition that André inherits his fortune, hoping to secure power and independence. As danger tightens, she becomes wary of exposure and begins reevaluating her loyalties. Her feelings and choices shift as the scheme spirals out of control.
- 💼 Businesswoman
- 💔 Betrayal
- 🎭 Drama
-
André Ferren (Omar Sharif)
Played by Omar Sharif
André is a suave broker who engineers a plan to ruin his rival and profit from the ensuing scandal. When accused of stealing $2.5 million, he insists he is framed and works to uncover the conspiracy while evading danger. His pursuit of truth and survival drives him through ski resorts and castle corridors. His fate hinges on outsmarting a network of powerful adversaries.
- 💼 Broker
- 💰 Ambition
- 🎭 Drama
-
Rolf (Bernhard Wicki)
Played by Bernhard Wicki
Rolf is a wealthy, ruthless client who uses his fortune to manipulate others and test their loyalties. He orchestrates the marriage and manipulation in a bid to control the wealth, employing surveillance to keep everyone in line. His ruthlessness is revealed as ex-wives are murdered and his plans begin to unravel. He ultimately meets a grim fate in the snow.
- 💼 Millionaire
- 🧠 Manipulation
- 🎭 Drama
- L(
Larry (Joseph Bottoms)
Played by Joseph Bottoms
Larry is a charming ski instructor who becomes Susan's lover and a tool in the castle's dangerous plot. He serves as a violent enforcer inside the fortress, wielding a sword during a confrontation with André. His loyalties are tested as the scheme tightens its grip on everyone involved.
- 💘 Romance
- ⚔️ Violence
- 🎭 Drama
- H(
Henkel (Heinz Ehrenfreund)
Played by Heinz Ehrenfreund
Henkel is the loyal manservant who carries out orders to protect Rolf's interests and eliminate threats. He plays a key role in the castle's deadly games, participating in murder attempts and security measures. His fate foreshadows the danger that power and wealth invite into the castle’s walls.
- 💼 Servant
- 🗡️ Violence
- 🎭 Drama
- I(
Innkeeper (Franz Muxeneder)
Played by Franz Muxeneder
The innkeeper operates within a village inn and is tied to the castle's web of surveillance and secrets. A pivotal moment reveals the innkeeper's face beneath a helmet, exposing hidden loyalties and the interwoven threats that travel between the castle and the surrounding villages.
- 🗝️ Secret identity
- 🏰 Castle setting
Where and When Is Crime and Passion Set?
Crime and Passion is set in Swiss Alps, Rolf's castle, Ski resort and Village inn. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Swiss Alps, Rolf's castle, Ski resort, Village inn
The story unfolds around a remote castle in the Swiss Alps, a luxurious stronghold that mirrors the wealth and power at stake. Several key scenes take place at a nearby ski resort and a village inn, locations where affairs, pursuit, and danger intersect. The snow-drenched landscape and secluded interiors heighten tension, distrust, and the sense of being constantly watched.
- 🏔️ Alpine setting
- 🏰 Castle locale
What Are the Themes of Crime and Passion?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Betrayal, Wealth and Violence.
-
01
Betrayal
Betrayal drives the plot as loyalties shift between André, Susan, and Rolf. Each character uses deceit to secure their own interests, creating a web of suspicion that is nearly impossible to unravel. The castle's cameras and surveillance amplify the sense that private thoughts are no longer private. The narrative examines how personal ambition can corrode trust and lead to deadly consequences.
-
02
Wealth
Wealth functions as both prize and weapon, pushing characters to take extreme risks. The fortune at stake shapes alliances, marriages, and schemes, revealing how money can corrupt judgment. Luxurious settings underscore the disparity between appearance and danger hidden beneath the surface. The pursuit of financial power ultimately accelerates the violence surrounding the characters.
-
03
Violence
The film builds suspense through repeated threats, chases, and confrontations within the castle walls. Weapons, traps, and fatal misfires punctuate the plot, testing who can outmaneuver whom. The climactic sequence blends surveillance with physical danger, culminating in a grim winter death. Violence here is a product of manipulation as much as of raw force.
What Kind of Film Is Crime and Passion?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A high-stakes, paranoid thriller set in a claustrophobic alpine castle, where characters navigate a deadly web of deceit and constant surveillance, resulting in a tense and fatal game of cat-and-mouse.
- tense
- suspenseful
- paranoid
- deadly
- deceitful
- claustrophobic
- betrayal
- financial corruption
- murder for hire
- deadly game
Content notes: murder attempt, stalking, explosive violence, psychological manipulation.
Quiz
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Where to Watch Crime and Passion
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi TV. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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