Save the Tiger Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A stressed-out clothing manufacturer decides arson and prostitution are valid business strategies while reminiscing about baseball and WWII, making you question if he’s trying to ‘Save the Company’ or himself.

🍿 Save the Tiger: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Day in the Life of Harry Stoner

The film follows roughly 24 hours in the life of Harry Stoner (Jack Lemmon), a middle-aged garment manufacturer in Los Angeles. Harry is struggling to keep his business afloat amidst mounting debts and a changing cultural landscape. He is haunted by vivid flashbacks to his experiences in World War II, juxtaposing the horrors of war with the mundane realities of his present-day life.

Desperate Measures

Faced with financial ruin, Harry contemplates drastic measures, including hiring an arsonist to burn down one of his factories for the insurance money. His business partner, Phil Greene (Jack Gilford), is morally opposed to the idea, creating tension between the two men. Harry also finds himself entangled in morally compromising situations, such as providing female companionship to a demanding client.

Nostalgia and Disillusionment

Throughout the day, Harry grapples with a sense of disillusionment, longing for a simpler time when baseball, jazz, and patriotism held greater significance. He encounters a free-spirited young woman named Myra (Laurie Heineman), whose youthful optimism contrasts sharply with his own jaded outlook. This encounter further emphasizes the generational divide and Harry’s growing sense of alienation.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Harry Stoner (Jack Lemmon): A troubled garment manufacturer grappling with debt, moral compromises, and haunting memories of World War II.
• Phil Greene (Jack Gilford): Harry’s business partner, who is more ethically grounded but feels trapped by their financial situation.
• Myra (Laurie Heineman): A free-spirited hippie girl who represents a generational divide and offers Harry a fleeting moment of connection.
• Fred Mirrell (Norman Burton): A demanding client who pressures Harry to provide prostitutes as a condition for placing orders.
• Janet Stoner (Patricia Smith): Harry’s emotionally distant wife, with whom he struggles to connect.
• Charlie Robbins (Thayer David): A professional arsonist whom Harry considers hiring to burn down his factory.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Harry Stoner: “Yes. I want that girl in a Cole Porter song. I wanna see Lena Horne at the Cotton Club – hear Billie Holiday sing fine and mellow – walk in that kind of rain that never washes perfume away. I wanna be in love with something. Anything. Just the idea. A dog, a cat. Anything. Just something.” – Harry expresses his longing for a more romantic and idealized past to Myra.
• Harry Stoner: “Quarterbacks, get knocked down, nurses get knocked up, yes professionals make mistakes.” – Harry rationalizing his actions to himself in the face of moral compromises.
• Myra: “Do you want to bone?” – Myra casually offers Harry sex shortly after they meet, highlighting the generational gap and changing social norms.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,000,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Save the Tiger Reviews

Personal Review

I really connected with Harry’s struggle in ‘Save the Tiger’. The way Jack Lemmon portrays his disillusionment with the modern world hit hard. The scene where he tries to connect with the baseball-playing kids was particularly poignant, showing how isolated he feels. It made me reflect on my own sense of nostalgia and the challenges of staying grounded in a constantly changing world.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Jack Lemmon”
  • “Viewers interested in character-driven dramas”
  • “Those who appreciate films that explore moral complexities”
  • “People interested in 1970s American cinema”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Adult themes”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Brief nudity”
  • “Discussions of prostitution”
  • “War flashbacks”

Professional Reviews

• Gold Derby: “Jack Lemmon delivers a brilliant, Oscar-winning performance as Harry Stoner, a middle-aged man at the end of his tether. He confuses his personal midlife crisis and the failure of his business with what he sees as the USA’s moral decline in the post-war years.
• N/A: “Although quite slow to get going the film is very tense at points and always thought provoking and intelligent thanks mainly to Lemmon’s excellent performance. You get the feeling throughout that the problems he face could be faced by anyone and his actions never seem unlikely. Definitely worth a viewing
• N/A: “Jack Lemmon’s wonderful gift for portraying the every day man is fully at work here. The film almost has a low budget, made-for-television feel and look. But it still delivers an engrossing story of people under stress.

Audience Reactions

Lemmon’s performance captures the angst of a man grappling with a changing world and questioning his own values.: Viewers praise Jack Lemmon’s raw and emotional portrayal of a man in crisis, highlighting the film’s thought-provoking themes.

The film’s exploration of lost ideals and moral compromises resonated deeply with many viewers.: Audiences appreciated the film’s honest and unflinching look at the challenges of staying true to oneself in a corrupt world.

Overall Consensus: ‘Save the Tiger’ is a powerful character study elevated by Jack Lemmon’s exceptional performance. Though sometimes slow-paced, it explores complex themes of morality, disillusionment, and the struggle to find meaning in a changing world, resonating with viewers who appreciate thought-provoking drama.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Actor)- 1974

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Jack Lemmon waived his usual fee and worked for scale plus a percentage of the gross, demonstrating his commitment to the film.”
• “The film explores themes of disillusionment and moral compromise, reflecting the social anxieties of the 1970s.”
• “Director John G. Avildsen, known for character-driven stories, later directed ‘Rocky,’ which shares themes of struggle and perseverance.”

🖥️ How to Watch Save the Tiger?

As of October 2024, “Save the Tiger” is available for purchase or rental on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred digital retailer for current pricing and availability. Unfortunately, there’s currently no streaming included with subscriptions on major platforms.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Save the Tiger, you might like these similar films:

• Death of a Salesman (1949): Both films explore the disillusionment of the American Dream and the struggles of a middle-aged man facing professional and personal crises.
• Glengarry Glen Ross (1992): Features a similar theme of moral compromise in the face of business pressures, also starring Jack Lemmon in a key role.
• Taxi Driver (1976): Shares a sense of urban alienation and a protagonist struggling with mental and moral decay in a changing society.

🛒 Save the Tiger Related Products

• Save the Tiger [Blu-ray]: Own this Jack Lemmon Classic on Blu-ray in High definition. Perfect addition for Classic movies collectors and Jack Lemmon fans. Buy it today.
• Jack Lemmon Film Collection [DVD]: A DVD collection featuring Jack Lemmon’s most memorable performances, including some of his iconic comedies and dramas. An essential collection for any film enthusiast.
• Vintage Baseball Poster – Brooklyn Dodgers: A vintage-style poster featuring the Brooklyn Dodgers, evoking the nostalgia Harry Stoner feels for the baseball of his youth. Printed on high-quality paper.
• The Great American Mid-Life Crisis Book: Discover the reasons, challenges, and what you can do to come out on top. Practical solutions to turn your crisis into a catalyst for personal growth. Real stories about a very real struggle.

🎧 Soundtrack

Save the Tiger features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Air Mail Special” – performed by Jim Mundy, Benny Goodman & Charlie Christian

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The White Tiger | One Scene Analysed – The Story Behind The Script | Netflix x Screenplayed

Ever wondered how a powerful scene gets made? This video dives into the script and filming of a key moment in ‘The White Tiger’, revealing the magic behind it! Honestly, seeing how much collaboration went into it made me appreciate the scene even more.

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