Cry Uncle! 1971

Comedy

Crime

Mystery

Runtime

87 mins

Language

English

Directed by

John G. Avildsen

Made by

15th Street Films

Where to Watch Cry Uncle!

See current US streaming, rental, and purchase options for Cry Uncle! (1971) via JustWatch.

Troma NOW

Stream

Fawesome

Free

Fandango at Home Free

Ads

Streaming availability powered by

Test your knowledge of Cry Uncle! with our quiz!

Cry Uncle! Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Cry Uncle! (1971). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Private detective Jake Masters, Allen Garfield, and his girlfriend Renee, Pamela Gruen, receive a call about a new case that pulls them into a high-stakes New York City mystery. The police are pursuing an eccentric millionaire, Jason Dominic David Kirk, in connection with the murder of a cocktail waitress named Lucille Reynolds, and Jason asks Jake to uncover the real killer. To start, Jake travels to LaGuardia Airport to pick up Jason’s bodyguard, Cora Merrill Madeleine Le Roux, as Lt. Fowler Mel Stewart watches the case unfold.

After an initial case of mistaken identity, the trio—Jake, his trainee nephew Keith Devin Goldenberg, and Cora—head to Jason’s yacht, where Jason explains that the police suspect him because Lucille filmed an orgy featuring him with three prostitutes who then blackmailed him for $50,000. Back at Jake’s apartment, Cora rebuffs Jake’s advances and instead becomes intimate with Keith; the three begin systematically examining a roster of suspects, mostly prostitutes, that might illuminate the truth.

During one interrogation, Cora grows volatile, and Jake removes her from further questioning. In another troubling moment, two prostitutes and a male suspect tie Jake up; the male suspect exits and is killed by an unseen assailant. Jake then tails one of the prostitutes to an apartment, where he rapes her, only to discover that she is dead. By chance, Jake uncovers that Cora’s story does not add up; he realizes she is acting on Jason’s orders to kill the blackmailers after Jake locates them, and he alerts the police.

Returning to his own apartment, Jake has sex with Cora, who later confesses to killing all of the suspects. A struggle follows, and Cora is killed by the police. The drama reaches a close when Renee surprises Jake at his apartment, and the pair are joyfully reunited.

Cry Uncle! Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Cry Uncle! (1971) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Case arrives; Jason's case is assigned

Jake Masters, with his girlfriend Renee, receives a call about a new case. The New York Police Department is hunting eccentric millionaire Jason Dominic in connection with the murder of Lucille Reynolds. Jason asks Jake to find the real killer.

New York City

Pickup of Cora Merrill at LaGuardia

Jake goes to LaGuardia Airport to pick up Jason's bodyguard, Cora Merrill. After an initial case of mistaken identity, Jake, his trainee nephew Keith, and Cora plan to visit Jason's yacht to discuss the case.

LaGuardia Airport

Jason on his yacht; motive revealed

On Jason's yacht, Jason explains that the police believe he killed Lucille because she filmed an orgy involving him and three prostitutes who allegedly blackmailed him for $50,000. He asks Jake to uncover the real killer.

Jason's yacht

Return to Jake's apartment; personal dynamics

Back at Jake's apartment, Cora rebuffs Jake's advances and instead has sex with Keith. The trio begins working through a list of suspects—prostitutes and other unsavory characters—to uncover the killer.

Jake's apartment

Violent interruption during questioning

While questioning a man, Cora becomes violent, prompting Jake to remove her from further questioning of the other suspects. The incident signals growing tension and distrust within the group.

Ambush; the tied up fight and a death

During one encounter, two prostitutes and a male suspect tie up Jake, but the male suspect exits the scene and is killed by an unknown assailant. The chaotic moment deepens the mystery around who is targeting whom.

Jake discovers Cora's deception

Jake follows one of the prostitutes to an apartment and has sex with her. He then realizes that she is dead. By chance, he discovers that Cora's story doesn't add up and that she is working for Jason to kill the blackmailers after Jake locates them.

Prostitute's apartment

Police alerted to Cora's plan

Jake informs the police that Cora's story is inconsistent and that she has been acting on Jason's orders to eliminate the blackmailers after Jake finds them. The move shifts the investigation toward Cora's true allegiance.

Return to the apartment; intimate surrender

Jake returns to his apartment and has sex with Cora, continuing the complicated power dynamic between them. The moment underscores a blurred boundary between cooperation and manipulation.

Jake's apartment

Confrontation and downfall of Cora

Confronting Cora, she admits to killing all of the suspects. A struggle ensues, and the police ultimately kill Cora. The layer of betrayal comes to a violent conclusion.

Jake's apartment

Reunion with Renee

Renee surprises Jake at his apartment, and the two are happy to be reunited. The case closes with their renewed relationship.

Jake's apartment

Cry Uncle! Characters

Explore all characters from Cry Uncle! (1971). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Jake Masters (Allen Garfield)

Jake Masters is a private detective who navigates a murky case with a mix of pragmatism and cynicism. He is loyal to Renee and willing to bend rules, creating moral ambiguity as he pursues leads. His investigation reveals a web of deceit, testing his ethics and forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths. By the end, his relationship with Renee provides a human anchor amid the chaos.

🕵️ Detective 🏙️ NYC setting ⚖️ Moral conflict

Cora Merrill (Madeleine Le Roux)

Cora is Jason’s bodyguard who becomes an associate-and-foil in the investigation. She rebuffs Jake's advances and engages in a sexual relationship with Keith, signaling calculated manipulation. Ultimately, she is revealed as the orchestrator of the murders on Jason's orders, a ruthless and strategic presence throughout the case. Her arc ends in a violent confrontation with the police.

🎭 Deceptive 💪 Physical presence 🔥 Magnetic

Jason Dominic (David Kirk)

Jason Dominic is the eccentric, wealthy client whose fear of scandal drives him to manipulate events from behind the scenes. He uses Jake to uncover the true blackmailers, playing a dangerous game to preserve his image and wealth. His charisma masks a willingness to push others into dangerous positions to protect himself.

💼 Millionaire 🧠 Mastermind 🧪 Manipulative

Renee (Pamela Gruen)

Renee is Jake's girlfriend, offering a personal anchor amid the case's chaos. She emerges as a stabilizing force and eventually reappears at Jake's apartment, reuniting with him after the tumult. Her presence foregrounds the film's emotional stakes and the toll of the detective's work on personal relationships.

💖 Loyal 🗝️ Complicating love 🎯 Strategic

Keith (Devin Goldenberg)

Keith is Jake's trainee nephew who becomes entangled in the case. He briefly shares a complicated, intimate moment with Cora, illustrating how the investigation pulls in family and personal relationships. His role underscores the vulnerability of those drawn into the noir's web of manipulation.

👦 Protégé 🧠 Impulsive 💔 Troubled

Cry Uncle! Settings

Learn where and when Cry Uncle! (1971) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

New York City, LaGuardia Airport, Jason's yacht, Jake's apartment

The story unfolds across New York City, with key locales including LaGuardia Airport, Jason's opulent yacht, and Jake's cramped apartment. These settings create a pulpy noir atmosphere that contrasts public spaces with intimate interiors. The cityscape serves as a backdrop where wealth, power, and deception collide, driving the plot forward.

🗽 Urban setting 🚢 Maritime vibes ✈️ Transit hub

Cry Uncle! Themes

Discover the main themes in Cry Uncle! (1971). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🕵️‍♂️

Crime

The film centers on crime as a mechanism of power and manipulation, with blackmail and murder driving the plot. Jake's investigation exposes a web of suspects and deceit. The pursuit demonstrates how wealth and status can distort truth and justice. Loyalties blur as the case unfolds in a city where appearances mask danger.

🔪

Betrayal

Cora's duplicity under Jason's orders drives the central betrayal. The narrative keeps the audience off balance as trust dissolves between Jake, Cora, and the criminal circle. The revelation that Cora orchestrates killings reframes earlier encounters as calculated moves rather than genuine danger. The ending exposes the cost of loyalty and manipulation.

💋

Seduction

Sexual encounters become leverage and disguise for the characters' true motives. Cora's relationship with Keith and her romance with Jake complicate loyalties and blurs moral boundaries. The film uses sexuality to reveal power dynamics, not affection, turning intimate moments into tactical moves. The tension between desire and duty propels the plot toward a violent climax.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore the mobile app

Cry Uncle! Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Cry Uncle! (1971). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the gritty streets of New York City, private detective Jake Masters operates in a world where the lines between right and wrong blur with every case. Accompanied by his girlfriend Renee, Jake’s work pulls him into the city’s darker corners — places where the law often falls short and justice requires a more personal touch. When a call brings a new assignment his way, Jake finds himself facing a mystery that promises to test his skills and his resolve.

The case centers on Jason Dominic, an eccentric millionaire who has landed on the police’s radar in connection with a shocking crime. With the authorities closing in, Jason turns to Jake for help, insisting that the truth lies somewhere beyond the obvious suspects. To assist in the investigation, Jason dispatches his bodyguard, Cora Merrill, while Lieutenant Fowler observes the unfolding drama with skeptical eyes. Rounding out the team is Jake’s nephew Keith, a trainee eager to learn the trade.

As Jake and his unconventional allies begin their search for answers, they quickly discover that this is no ordinary case. The investigation leads them through a web of conflicting stories and hidden agendas, where each interview raises new questions and every clue seems to point in a different direction. The deeper they dig, the more the mystery resists easy resolution — and the more Jake begins to wonder whether he can truly trust those around him.

With tension mounting and the stakes growing higher by the hour, Jake must navigate a landscape where appearances deceive and the truth remains elusive. In a city that thrives on secrets, finding the answers may require confronting dangers that even a seasoned detective isn’t prepared for.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

Movies with Similar Twists and Themes

Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.