What Is Wicked as They Come About?
The premise of Wicked as They Come in 255 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a world where charm can open doors that talent alone cannot, Katherine Allenborg understands the power of beauty as currency. She enters a beauty contest with her eyes fixed firmly on the prize—a trip to Europe that represents her first step toward a grander life. The organizer, Sam Lewis, finds himself ensnared by her wiles, but Katherine’s affections are as fleeting as they are calculated.
Reinventing herself as Kathy Allen, she sets her sights on London’s social scene with a determination that borders on ruthless. The men she encounters—whether the earnest advertising man Tim O’Bannion or the wealthier photographer Larry Buckham—become rungs on a ladder she climbs without looking back. Her ambitions outpace simple romance; she wants security, status, and the finer things that only money can provide.
At the advertising firm where she finds employment, Kathy’s scheming takes on new dimensions. Stephen Collins, the married man who runs the agency, becomes another piece in her carefully orchestrated game. Yet beneath her cool exterior, tensions simmer—passion and calculation war within her, and not every man she manipulates remains oblivious to her true nature.
As Kathy’s influence grows, so does an undercurrent of danger that follows her ascent. Anonymous threats and shadowy figures suggest that someone may be watching her more closely than she realizes. In a story where ambition collides with consequence, Kathy must face the question of whether the life she’s built on the backs of others can ever truly be secure—or whether the past she’s outrun will finally catch up with her.
What Happens in Wicked as They Come?
The complete story of Wicked as They Come, from the first scene to the last, in 305 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Katherine Allenborg, Arlene Dahl trades on her looks. She enters a beauty contest and charms the elderly organizer, Sam Lewis, David Kossoff into fixing it so she will win first prize, a trip to Europe. She promptly abandons Sam.
On a plane to London, after changing her name to Kathy Allen, she is attracted to Tim O’Bannion, Philip Carey who works for an ad agency. However, she is determined to land someone wealthier, and photographer Larry Buckham, Michael Goodliffe whom she meets at her London hotel, fits the bill. Invited to use his charge account at a department store for a wedding dress, Kathy makes many purchases, pawns the merchandise, and leaves Larry without a word.
She gets a job at Tim’s advertising firm and seduces Stephen Collins, Herbert Marshall the man who runs it, and who is married. Tim arouses passion in her, but Kathy is strictly out for herself. She demands that Collins divorce his wife Virginia Collins, Faith Brook whose father John Dowling owns the agency. Virginia tries to pay her off, but Kathy requests a transfer to the agency’s Paris headquarters, where she immediately uses her wiles to get Dowling to marry her.
Anonymous threats begin by mail and phone, and someone in the shadows begins stalking her. Kathy picks up a gun and shoots through the door, accidentally killing her husband. No one believes her tale of a prowler and Kathy is tried, convicted and sentenced to die.
Realising Larry Buckham is the prowler, Tim reveals to him something he has only just discovered, an explanation for Kathy’s cold treatment of men: when she was a teenager, she was brutally assaulted. Larry has a change of heart and confesses to stalking her. Kathy’s prison sentence is reduced, and she hopes Tim will give her another chance once she gets out.
Wicked as They Come Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Wins beauty contest through Sam Lewis's fix” to “Hope for a second chance with Tim”. 11 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Wins beauty contest through Sam Lewis's fix
A poor girl from the slums enters a beauty contest and uses her looks to stand out. She charms Sam Lewis, the elderly organizer, who fixes the results so she wins first prize. The prize is a trip to Europe, which she immediately plans to use for her advancement. After the win, she promptly abandons Sam.
Where:Beauty contest
- 2
Travels to London and adopts a new name
On the plane to London, she changes her name to Kathy Allen. She becomes attracted to Tim O'Bannion, who works for a London ad agency, but her aim is to land someone wealthier. Her ascent in Europe begins to hinge on finding a powerful sponsor.
Where:London (en route)
- 3
Meets Tim O'Bannion and plans wealth
Kathy is attracted to Tim O'Bannion, who works at a London advertising firm. Yet she is determined to land someone wealthier than him to secure her future. Her ambitions steer her early decisions in the city.
Where:London
- 4
Meets Larry Buckham and exploits his account
Kathy meets photographer Larry Buckham at a London hotel and is invited to use his department-store charge account to buy a wedding dress. She makes numerous purchases, pawns the merchandise, and leaves Larry without a word.
Where:London
- 5
Joins Tim's firm and seduces Stephen Collins
She lands a job at Tim's advertising firm. There she seduces Stephen Collins, the man who runs it and is married. Her manipulation continues as she uses her influence to advance herself.
Where:Tim's advertising firm
- 6
Pursues Dowling through a Paris move
Tim arouses passion in her, but Kathy is strictly out for herself. She demands that Collins divorce his wife Virginia; Virginia tries to pay her off, but Kathy transfers to the agency's Paris headquarters and uses her wiles to get Dowling to marry her.
Where:Paris headquarters
- 7
Threats, stalking, and a deadly act
Anonymous threats begin by mail and phone, and someone in the shadows begins stalking her. Kathy picks up a gun and shoots through the door, accidentally killing her husband. No one believes her tale of a prowler and Kathy is tried, convicted and sentenced to die.
Where:Dowling's home (Paris)
- 8
Trial and death sentence
No one believes her tale of a prowler, and Kathy is tried, convicted, and sentenced to die. The case hinges on the lack of corroboration for the prowler story, leaving her with a bleak future as she awaits execution.
Where:Courtroom
- 9
Tim explains Kathy's past to Larry
Tim reveals to Larry something he has just discovered, offering an explanation for Kathy's cold treatment of men. He explains that Kathy was brutally assaulted as a teenager, which shapes her behavior and defenses. Larry begins to reassess his role in her life and the harm she endured.
Where:Tim's office
- 10
Larry confesses to stalking Kathy
Larry experiences a change of heart and confesses to stalking Kathy. This confession reframes the investigation and adds a layer of complexity to Kathy's past and present danger. Kathy's history becomes central to understanding the case.
- 11
Kathy's sentence is reduced
Kathy's prison sentence is reduced, offering her a chance at release. She clings to the hope that she might earn a fresh start, depending on the outcome of her plea for mercy. The change signals a potential redemption arc if she can win Tim's trust.
Where:Prison
- 12
Hope for a second chance with Tim
With the possibility of release on the horizon, Kathy hopes Tim will give her another chance. Her future depends on forgiveness and whether Tim is willing to redefine their relationship after all she has done. The narrative closes on the tension between past trauma and potential reconciliation.
Where:Prison
Who Are the Main Characters in Wicked as They Come?
7 characters, among them Kathy Allen (Katherine Allenborg), Sam Lewis and Tim O'Bannion: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- KA
Kathy Allen (Katherine Allenborg)
Played by Arlene Dahl
A poor girl who leverages her looks to ascend from the slums into the world of beauty contests and high society. She uses charm to win favor, abandons allies when convenient, and moves deftly between lovers and patrons to secure wealth. Her past trauma and relentless ambition drive a self-serving, survivalist approach to relationships.
- ❄️ Manipulative
- 🎭 Charismatic
- 💫 Ambitious
- SL
Sam Lewis
Played by David Kossoff
An elderly man who runs the beauty contest and becomes the first target of Kathy’s scheme. He wields influence but is ultimately exploited by Kathy’s ambitions. His role underscores the vulnerability of those who enable painful desires for the sake of prestige.
- 🎭 Patron
- 💰 Wealth
- 🧓 Elderly
- TO
Tim O'Bannion
Played by Philip Carey
A worker at the advertising agency who becomes entangled with Kathy emotionally and professionally. He craves genuine connection but is drawn into the web of manipulation. Tim ultimately reveals crucial truths that pivot the story toward potential accountability and redemption.
- 🎯 Ambitious
- 🧠 Insightful
- 💬 Voice of restraint
- LB
Larry Buckham
Played by Michael Goodliffe
A photographer who first attracts Kathy’s interest with practical access to her world of glamour. He later emerges as the real stalker, whose experiences with Kathy push the plot toward a moral reckoning. His confession becomes a turning point in Kathy’s legal fate.
- 📷 Photographer
- 🤑 Opportunist
- 🕵️♂️ Suspicious
- SC
Stephen Collins
Played by Herbert Marshall
The head of the advertising firm and a married man who is seduced by Kathy. His professional stature collides with personal temptation, placing him at the center of moral conflict within the agency. His relationship with Kathy accelerates the chain of manipulations.
- 👔 Executive
- 💘 Seduced
- ⚖️ Morally Compromised
- VC
Virginia Collins
Played by Faith Brook
The daughter of John Dowling and wife of Stephen Collins. She tries to shield herself from the scheming by offering money to Kathy, illustrating a rivalrous dynamic within the upper echelons of the agency. Her stance reflects the protective, anxious angle of a family caught in corporate and romantic politics.
- 👩💼 Wife
- 🛡️ Protective
- 🧭 Strategic
-
John Dowling
Played by Ralph Truman
Wealthy agency owner and Virginia’s father. He represents the patriarchal authority and financial power Kathy seeks to co-opt by engineering a marriage. Dowling’s eventual death during Kathy’s rise becomes a pivotal turning point in the courtroom drama.
- 🏛️ Patron
- 🗝️ Wealthy patriarch
- 🕰️ Gatekeeper
Where and When Is Wicked as They Come Set?
Wicked as They Come is set in London and Paris (1950s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1950s
Set in the 1950s, a time of postwar consumer culture and evolving social mores. The era’s glossy advertising world, beauty standards, and high-society rituals frame Kathy’s ascent and the moral compromises around wealth. The period atmosphere amplifies the dramatic tension between appearances and real motives.
Where
London, Paris
The story moves from the urban slums into the glamorous world of beauty contests and advertising, then to a transatlantic flight to London and onto a Paris headquarters. It uses iconic city settings—hotels, department stores, and agency offices—as backdrops for Kathy's social climbing. London and Paris function as the glittering stage on which power, money, and manipulation play out.
- 🏙️ Urban centers
- 💄 Fashion
- ✈️ Travel
What Are the Themes of Wicked as They Come?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Glamour, Exploitation and Trauma.
-
01
Glamour
Glamour is shown as a powerful lure that Kathy wields to manipulate others and climb the social ladder. The beauty contest, fashion purchases, and enviable social access illustrate how surface allure can open doors while masking darker motives. The film uses stylish settings to highlight the cost of chasing prestige.
-
02
Exploitation
Exploitation threads through Kathy’s relationships as she leverages charm and wealth gaps to control men and situations. The narrative reveals how those in positions of influence, like Sam Lewis and Dowling, become instruments in her bid for security and status. The coercive dynamic exposes the predatory side of a glittering social milieu.
-
03
Trauma
A pivotal backstory element is Kathy’s past assault, which helps explain her ruthlessness and emotional defenses. The trauma informs her distrust of genuine intimacy and her relentless pursuit of power. The film uses this wound to illuminate the complexity behind her calculated actions.
-
04
Redemption
The plot culminates in legal peril and a chance at redemption as Kathy’s prison sentence is reduced after revelations. The changing heart of Larry and Tim introduces a path away from vengeance toward forgiveness. The ending leaves open whether true change is possible beyond mere survival.
What Kind of Film Is Wicked as They Come?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A cynical and suspenseful British noir that charts a ruthless woman's destructive climb through society, leading to a grim murder trial and a final, bittersweet chance at redemption.
- cynical
- suspenseful
- manipulative
- grim
- fatalistic
- regretful
- social climbing
- female manipulation
- false conviction
- psychological stalking
Content notes: sexual assault, stalking, murder, false imprisonment, death sentence.
Quiz
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