Seduction, betrayal, and double-crosses spiral as con artists lock horns in a Mediterranean giallo.
THE GREAT SWINDLE
A seductive woman gets involved in relationships with several people. All of the characters play games of deceit with one and other and things get more and more dangerous.
Quick Answer
The Great Swindle is a 1971 Spanish-Italian crime thriller directed by José Antonio Nieves Conde about two professional con artists whose mutual deception leads them to join forces against wealthy targets, only to be further tangled by romantic complications and sudden danger.
Programmer's Pick
Giallo with a Mediterranean twist, The Great Swindle delivers a tangled web of double-crosses, sultry seductions, and dangerous liaisons. Marisa Mell and Stephen Boyd bring extra voltage as con artists who can’t resist trying to outfox—then out-bed—each other. This is Euro-crime decadence with a side of forbidden attraction.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- José Antonio Nieves Conde
- Writers
- Juan José Alonso Millán, Juan Miguel Lamet, Giovanni Simonelli
- Release
- 1971
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Country
- Spain, Italy
- Language
- Spanish, English
- Also Known As
- Diabolicamente sole col delitto, Nel buio del terrore, Historia de una traición (original title)
Why This Matters
This Spanish-Italian thriller from 1971 exemplifies the era's cross-border European genre collaborations, with its multiple international titles reflecting its distribution across Spain and Italy.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
Carla’s evasive dance with Lola adds a layer of queer tension and manipulation rarely seen in early '70s giallo crime dramas.
Watch two expert grifters try to seduce, double-cross, and ultimately team up, never sure who’s playing whom.
Expect stripteases, sex parties, and sunbathing as this Spanish-Italian production leans into the decadent side of the genre.
Marisa Mell’s Carla isn’t just arm candy—she’s a calculating, seductive con woman at the center of every move.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Questions from the Vault
When was The Great Swindle released? +
The Great Swindle was released in 1971.
Who directed The Great Swindle? +
The Great Swindle was directed by José Antonio Nieves Conde.
How long is The Great Swindle? +
The Great Swindle has a runtime of 93 minutes.
What genre is The Great Swindle? +
The Great Swindle is a crime, drama, and thriller film.
Where can I watch The Great Swindle? +
You can watch The Great Swindle on SassyFlix.
How do Carla's relationships complicate the con artists' scheme? +
Carla’s avoidance of intimacy with Lola, who falls for her, creates romantic frustration and adds an unpredictable element to their plan, making the con more precarious.
Trailers & Clips
