Cry Uncle! (1971) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A detective's search for a murderer turns into an investigation of his own dangerous associate.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Case At The Airport

Jake receives a murder-related assignment while with Renee. He meets Keith and Cora, then hears the blackmail story during a yacht briefing.

Key Events

• Jake With Renee — Jake is with Renee before receiving a new case call. Characters: Jake Masters, Renee Location: Jake's apartment
• The Case Call — Jake receives a call about a new murder-related investigation. Characters: Jake Masters Location: Jake's apartment
• Police Search Begins — The police are searching for an eccentric millionaire linked to murder. Characters: Jake Masters Location: New York City
• A Client Requests Help — The wanted millionaire asks Jake to find the real killer. Characters: Jake Masters Location: New York City
• Airport Mistaken Identity — Jake goes to the airport and initially mistakes Cora's identity. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: LaGuardia Airport
• The Team Meets — Jake, Keith, and Cora meet and begin working together. Characters: Jake Masters, Keith, Cora Merrill Location: LaGuardia Airport
• Yacht Briefing — The team visits the yacht for a briefing about the murder case. Characters: Jake Masters, Keith, Cora Merrill Location: Millionaire's yacht
• The Blackmail Motive — The case involves an orgy film, prostitutes, and a fifty-thousand-dollar blackmail demand. Characters: Jake Masters, Keith, Cora Merrill Location: Millionaire's yacht

Suspects And Tensions

The investigators return to Jake's apartment and begin examining their list of suspects. Personal tensions rise when Cora rejects Jake and becomes involved with Keith.

Key Events

• Back To The Apartment — The investigators return to Jake's apartment to organize their leads. Characters: Jake Masters, Keith, Cora Merrill Location: Jake's apartment
• Cora Rejects Jake — Cora rejects Jake's advances, changing the personal tension among the investigators. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: Jake's apartment
• Cora And Keith Together — Cora has sex with Keith instead of Jake. Characters: Keith, Cora Merrill Location: Jake's apartment
• Suspect List Investigation — The team works through prostitutes and other unsavory suspects. Characters: Jake Masters, Keith, Cora Merrill Location: New York City
• Violent Questioning — Cora becomes violent while questioning a man. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: Suspect's location
• Jake Excludes Cora — Jake decides to keep Cora away from later questioning sessions. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: New York City

Witnesses In Peril

The investigation becomes increasingly violent as Jake is tied up and suspects begin dying. Jake's discovery of a dead witness makes the case more disturbing.

Key Events

• Jake Is Tied Up — Two prostitutes and a male suspect tie Jake up during an encounter. Characters: Jake Masters Location: Suspects' location
• A Suspect Is Killed — The male suspect leaves the room and is killed by an unknown person. Characters: Jake Masters Location: Outside the suspects' location
• Following A Lead — Jake follows one of the prostitutes to an apartment. Characters: Jake Masters Location: New York City
• The Dead Witness — Jake assaults the prostitute and then realizes that she is already dead. Characters: Jake Masters Location: Apartment
• Cora's Story Unravels — Jake discovers that Cora's account of events does not make sense. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: New York City

Cora's Deadly Secret

Jake realizes that Cora's story is false and concludes that she has been killing the suspects. He alerts the police before returning to confront her.

Key Events

• The Hidden Mission — Jake concludes that Cora is killing suspects after he locates them. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: New York City
• Jake Alerts Police — Jake notifies the police about Cora's suspected involvement. Characters: Jake Masters Location: New York City
• A Final Intimacy — Jake returns to his apartment and has sex with Cora. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: Jake's apartment
• Jake Confronts Cora — Jake confronts Cora after their encounter. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: Jake's apartment
• Cora Confesses — Cora admits that she killed all of the suspects. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: Jake's apartment

Confession And Reunion

Cora admits killing the suspects, and a struggle follows in Jake's apartment. The police kill Cora, after which Renee returns and reunites with Jake.

Key Events

• The Apartment Struggle — Jake and Cora struggle after her confession. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: Jake's apartment
• Cora Is Killed — Cora is killed by the police during the confrontation. Characters: Jake Masters, Cora Merrill Location: Jake's apartment
• Renee Returns — Renee surprises Jake, and they are happy to be reunited. Characters: Jake Masters, Renee Location: Jake's apartment

Story Breakdown

• Domestic Opening — Jake begins in a relatively calm personal setting before the new case disrupts his relationship with Renee.
  • Jake With Renee — Jake spends time with Renee before the investigation begins.
  • Case Call — A telephone call brings Jake into the murder-related assignment.
• Murder Assignment — The case introduces a wanted millionaire, a murdered waitress, and a request to find the real killer.
  • Police Search — The police are hunting the person connected to the murder.
  • Client's Request — Jake is asked to investigate beyond the official accusation.
• Investigation Team — Jake joins Keith and Cora and receives the central explanation of the blackmail case.
  • Airport Meeting — Jake meets Cora after an initial mistaken identity.
  • Yacht Briefing — The team hears about the film and the fifty-thousand-dollar demand.
• Personal Entanglements — The investigation becomes complicated by sexual encounters and shifting loyalties inside the group.
  • Cora Rejects Jake — Cora refuses Jake's advances.
  • Keith And Cora — Cora instead has sex with Keith.
• Suspects Under Pressure — The team follows leads while violence increasingly shapes the investigation.
  • Suspect List — Jake, Keith, and Cora examine prostitutes and other suspects.
  • Violent Questioning — Cora becomes violent while questioning a man.
• Witnesses Disappear — Jake encounters escalating danger as suspects are attacked and witnesses become unavailable.
  • Jake Tied Up — Two prostitutes and a male suspect restrain Jake.
  • Dead Witness — Jake discovers that a prostitute he followed is dead.
• Cora's Revelation — Jake recognizes that Cora's story is false and identifies her as the force behind the killings.
  • Story Inconsistencies — Jake notices that Cora's account does not make sense.
  • Hidden Mission — Jake concludes that Cora kills suspects after he locates them.
• Final Confrontation — Jake confronts Cora after notifying the police, leading to confession, struggle, and death.
  • Cora Confesses — Cora admits killing all of the suspects.
  • Police Intervention — The police kill Cora during the struggle.
• Emotional Resolution — The violent case ends with Jake and Renee restoring their relationship.
  • Renee Returns — Renee surprises Jake at his apartment.
  • Happy Reunion — Jake and Renee are happy to be reunited.

Directed by

John G. Avildsen

Key Cast

• Jackson Beck — Narrator (voice)
• Pamela Gruen — Renee
• Allen Garfield — Jake Masters
• Devin Goldenberg — Keith
• Marcia Jean Kurtz — Russian Girl