What Is Target: Harry About?
The premise of Target: Harry in 285 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the glittering yet shadow‑laden world of post‑war Europe, a lone pilot is hired for a seemingly routine charter that will take him from the glamour of Monte Carlo to the winding streets of Istanbul. The job promises a swift flight across continents, but the moment the aircraft touches down, a sudden turn of events throws the traveler into a maze of uncertainty and danger.
Harry Black is a weather‑worn aviator with a past that includes prison walls and a grudging release from the authorities. His skill in the cockpit is matched only by his instinct for survival, and he carries the weight of a reputation that makes both lawmen and hustlers eye him warily. As the city’s ancient bazaars and dimly lit alleys press in, Harry finds himself navigating more than just air currents; he must also read the shifting loyalties of strangers who appear at every turn.
The mysterious operative Diane Reed and the imposing local figure Mosul Rashi both sense that Harry is tied to something far more valuable than a simple passenger—an item rumored to be worth fortunes and capable of tipping the balance of power in the underground world. Their presence adds a cold, calculated tension to the already volatile atmosphere, turning the Turkish night into a chessboard of intrigue where every glance could conceal a hidden agenda.
Against a backdrop of smoky cafés, neon‑lit ports, and the perpetual hum of propellers, the story unfolds as a high‑stakes thriller that blends noir sensibility with exotic adventure. Harry must decide whom to trust, how far he will go, and whether the promise of a clean exit is ever truly within reach when the stakes are as priceless as they are elusive.
What Happens in Target: Harry?
The complete story of Target: Harry, from the first scene to the last, in 408 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
During a high-stakes race at Monte Carlo, Milos Segora Michael Ansara attempts to assassinate Jason Carlyle Stanley Holloway but instead shoots an innocent bystander, sparking a desperate flight as Carlyle and his daughter Ruth Carlyle Charlotte Rampling race to safety.
Freelance pilot Harry Black [Vic Morrow] is bailed out of prison and released with a warning by Lieutenant Duval Cesar Romero. He then flies Jason Carlyle to Istanbul, where Carlyle is murdered shortly after, shattering any pretense of a quick escape. The motive seems tied to plates for counterfeiting currency that Carlyle was believed to carry, plates that are now missing, and the investigation quickly widens to include Harry, who finds himself caught between rival crooks and Istanbul police who suspect his involvement in the death.
On the horizon loom several interested parties: the purported local crimelord Mosul Rashi [Victor Buono], whose henchmen include Milos Segora and Kemal [Milton Reid], and the enigmatic Diane Reed [Suzanne Pleshette]. As Harry navigates a maze of alleyways, hotels, and shadowy factions, he encounters betrayals, false alibis, and tense standoffs that push him toward a dangerous realization: the stakes are not just the missing plates, but power, loyalty, and survival itself.
After a series of tense run-ins, Harry flees Istanbul and returns to Monte Carlo, where he confronts Ruth Carlyle again and learns that she had the plates all along. The plot thickens as Kemal, in league with Diane Reed, breaks into Ruth’s hotel room, murders her, and seizes the coveted plates. Harry attempts to stop him, but Kemal is killed by Harry in a fierce confrontation that shifts the balance of power once more.
Harry then forms an uneasy alliance with Mosul Rashi and follows Diane to Kerkyra. There, Segora reveals a deeper layer to his motives—he is a member of the Albanian secret service—and strikes his own deal with Diane for the plates. In the ensuing chase, Harry and Rashi attempt to hide within a tour group, but Segora and his men open fire on the tourists, forcing a violent clash. Harry and Rashi manage to shoot their pursuers, and Rashi bows out of the caper.
With the pursuit intensifying, Harry returns to Monte Carlo alone to confront Diane Reed. The final turn of events sees him pressuring Diane, choosing to turn her in to Duval rather than continue the collaboration, a decision that resolves the immediate danger but leaves a reshaped web of loyalties and consequences in its wake.
Target: Harry Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Assassination attempt at the Monte Carlo race” to “Final confrontation back in Monte Carlo”. 15 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Assassination attempt at the Monte Carlo race
Milos Segora attempts to assassinate Jason Carlyle during a high-stakes Monte Carlo race. The shooter misses, striking an innocent bystander instead. Carlyle and his daughter Ruth scramble to flee the chaos.
When:during the race Where:Monte Carlo
- 2
Carlyle and Ruth flee the scene
Carlyle and Ruth escape the scene and vanish into the crowd as the danger intensifies. The escape marks the first sign of the deadly chase surrounding the missing plates. Authorities and rival players begin tracking them.
Where:Monte Carlo
- 3
Harry Black is released from prison
Freelance pilot Harry Black is bailed out of prison and released with a warning from Lieutenant Duval. He exits with uneasy calm, aware that bigger trouble looms. The warning hints at the wider conspiracy over the missing plates.
Where:Prison
- 4
Harry flies Carlyle to Istanbul
Harry ferries Jason Carlyle to Istanbul, hoping to escape danger and perhaps find answers. The journey moves the stake to a new city where new players emerge. Carlyle and Ruth remain implicated as threats close in.
Where:Istanbul
- 5
Carlyle is murdered in Istanbul
Shortly after arriving in Istanbul, Carlyle is murdered, leaving the plates status unresolved. The death escalates the chase and drags Harry into a maze of suspects. The city becomes a battlefield for power over the plates.
Where:Istanbul
- 6
Missing plates and mounting danger in Istanbul
In Istanbul, Carlyle is believed to have carried the plates for counterfeiting and they are now missing. Harry finds himself caught between rival crooks and the Istanbul police who suspect him in Carlyle's death. The situation tightens around him as trust erodes.
Where:Istanbul
- 7
Introduction of key players
The cast of players expands to Mosul Rashi, Segora, Kemal, and the enigmatic Diane Reed. Each has a hand in the plates and different intentions for what to do with them. The intrigue grows as alliances shift.
Where:Istanbul
- 8
Harry flees Istanbul for Monte Carlo
After a string of run ins, Harry escapes Istanbul and returns to Monte Carlo to regroup. He reassesses whom to trust and how to stay alive. The return marks a shift back to the original playground for the next moves.
Where:Monte Carlo
- 9
Harry meets Ruth and learns she has the plates
Back in Monte Carlo, Harry reconnects with Ruth and discovers she has been in possession of the plates all along. The revelation changes loyalties and heightens the risk for everyone involved. The plates become the central prize again.
Where:Monte Carlo
- 10
Kemal and Diane breach Ruth's room; Ruth is killed
Kemal, working with Diane, breaks into Ruth’s hotel room, murders her, and takes the plates. The loss of Ruth tightens the net around Harry and raises the stakes for everyone.
Where:Monte Carlo
Show the other 5 events of Target: Harry Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Harry kills Kemal
Kemal attempts to kill Harry, but Harry shoots him first, removing a key antagonist from the grid of rivals.
Where:Monte Carlo
- 12
Harry and Rashi ally and follow Diane to Kerkyra
Harry and Mosul Rashi form an alliance of convenience and pursue Diane's trail to Kerkyra. The partnership helps them navigate shifting loyalties and dangers in pursuit of the plates.
Where:Kerkyra
- 13
Segora reveals allegiance; Albanian secret service maneuver
In Kerkyra, Segora reveals himself as a member of the Albanian secret service and makes his own deal with Diane for the plates. The revelation heightens the stakes as multiple factions converge in a high risk chase.
Where:Kerkyra
- 14
Chase on Kerkyra; tourists targeted
During the chase, Segora and his men shoot several tourists while Harry and Rashi try to escape by hiding in a tour group. The chaos underscores the brutality of the conspiracy and the danger to bystanders.
Where:Kerkyra
- 15
Final confrontation back in Monte Carlo
Rashi bows out of the caper, and Harry returns to Monte Carlo alone to confront Diane. He agrees to team up with her but instead turns Diane in to Duval, ending the conspiracy.
Where:Monte Carlo
Who Are the Main Characters in Target: Harry?
8 characters, among them Diane Reed (Suzanne Pleshette), Jason Carlyle (Stanley Holloway) and Ruth Carlyle (Charlotte Rampling): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Diane Reed (Suzanne Pleshette)
Played by Suzanne Pleshette
A mysterious figure who collaborates with Kemal to obtain the plates. She moves through factions with calculated charm, using information as a weapon and keeping her true motives concealed until the end. Her presence intensifies the sense that every ally could become an enemy.
- 🕵️♀️ Conspirator
- 🔑 Secrets
- 💼 Manipulator
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Jason Carlyle (Stanley Holloway)
Played by Stanley Holloway
A high-profile figure believed to be carrying counterfeit plates; his assassination triggers the pursuit. His murder reveals how he is both a target and a linchpin in the criminal scheme. His presence haunts the early part of the plot as motives and loyalties shift.
- 🎯 Target
- 🕵️♂️ High-stakes
- 💼 Wealth
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Ruth Carlyle (Charlotte Rampling)
Played by Charlotte Rampling
Jason Carlyle's daughter who somehow holds the plates, making her a focal point of pursuit. She becomes a victim when Kemal and Diane invade her hotel room, underscoring the dangers of possessing critical leverage. Her involvement intensifies the personal stakes of the conspiracy.
- 🧩 Key possession
- 💔 Victim
- 🕊️ Mystery
- HB
Harry Black (Vic Morrow)
Played by Vic Morrow
A freelance pilot caught between rival criminals and the Istanbul police. He transports Carlyle to Istanbul and navigates a perilous path through shifting alliances. His actions drive the chase, and he ultimately makes decisions that shape the film's final outcome.
- 🛩️ Pilot
- 🤝 Opportunist
- 🗡️ Survivor
- MR
Mosul Rashi (Victor Buono)
Played by Victor Buono
A looming crimelord whose operation includes Segora and Kemal. He appears as a powerful organizer in the criminal network and initially appears to stay in the shadows before making decisive moves in the chase.
- 👑 Crime lord
- 🌀 Shadowy
- 🤝 Ally-turned-foe
- MM
Maj. Milos Segora (Michael Ansara)
Played by Michael Ansara
A member of the Albanian secret service who maneuvers within the plot and ultimately reveals his own deal for the plates. His loyalties are pragmatic, and his actions add a dangerous layer of espionage to the pursuit.
- 🗺️ Secret service
- 🗡️ Double-dealer
- K(
Kemal (Milton Reid)
Played by Milton Reid
A ruthless henchman whose violence is instrumental to the plot, including the murder of Ruth. He clashes with Harry and is eventually killed, marking the end of one branch of the crime operation.
- 🗡️ Henchman
- 🕶️ Ruthless
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Lt. George Duval (Cesar Romero)
Played by Cesar Romero
A police lieutenant who pursues the criminals and seeks to bring them to justice. His involvement anchors the law enforcement side of the cat-and-mouse game and provides a counterbalance to the criminals.
- ⚖️ Law enforcer
- 🧭 Pursuit
- 🗺️ Investigation
Where and When Is Target: Harry Set?
Target: Harry is set in Monte Carlo, Istanbul and Kerkyra. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Monte Carlo, Istanbul, Kerkyra
Monte Carlo serves as the opening stage, a glitzy gambler's playground where fortunes are at stake and risk is part of the scenery. Istanbul functions as a crossing point between continents, a city of intrigue where fugitives weave through ancient streets. Kerkyra (Corfu) provides a lush island escape that becomes the backdrop for the final chase. The film uses these locales to amplify the tension between luxury, crime, and pursuit.
- 🗺️ Luxury settings
- 🕵️♂️ International crime
- 🚢 Glamour and danger
What Are the Themes of Target: Harry?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Crime & Intrigue, Betrayal & Alliances and Chase & Escape.
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01
Crime & Intrigue
The story revolves around a web of criminal acts, counterfeit plates, and high-stakes assassination. Protagonists and antagonists maneuver through a network of loyalties and betrayals, revealing how easily trust dissolves in pursuit of wealth. The intrigue spans multiple locales, keeping the audience guessing about who is truly in control. The narrative emphasizes the slow unravelling of plans as new information emerges.
-
02
Betrayal & Alliances
Alliances form only when they serve immediate goals, and loyalty is fluid. Diane Reed manipulates others to advance her own interests, while Ruth Carlyle's possession of the plates adds stakes to every confrontation. Harry Black negotiates with Rashi, and Segora's shifting loyalties show how traitors move between sides. The theme explores how trust is a tactical choice rather than a moral constant.
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03
Chase & Escape
The plot drives a globe-trotting pursuit from Monte Carlo to Istanbul and finally to Kerkyra. The film builds tension through high-stakes chases and near-collapses, including threats from rival factions and the police. Protagonist Harry Black must outsmart criminals while navigating shifting loyalties. The relentless pursuit keeps the momentum, culminating in a final confrontation.
What Kind of Film Is Target: Harry?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Mixed
A fast-paced, tense crime thriller that follows a cynical pilot caught in a web of shifting allegiances and dangerous pursuits for stolen counterfeit plates, creating a constant atmosphere of danger and mistrust.
- tense
- suspenseful
- paranoid
- cynical
- mysterious
- dangerous
- crime thriller
- double cross
- wrongful accusation
- furtive alliances
Content notes: murder, shooting, wrongful accusation.
Quiz
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