The Swiss Conspiracy
Encyclopedia
The Swiss Conspiracy is a 1976
action film
starring David Janssen
, Senta Berger
and Elke Sommer
, directed by Jack Arnold. It was co-produced between Germany
and the United States
.
threats have been made to five holders of the accounts. They include a crooked arms dealer, who received a demand for five million Swiss francs. He refuses to pay and is shot dead. The bank is also told to pay ten million francs to keep the accounts secret.
The bank hires David Christopher (Janssen), a former U.S. Treasury official who now resides in Geneva
. In the course of his investigation, Christopher talks to the four living blackmailees -- beautiful Zürich resident Denise Abbott (Berger), Texas businessman Dwight McGowan (John Ireland
), Chicago crook Robert Hayes (John Saxon
) and Dutchman Andre Kosta (Curt Lowens
).
He identifies a number of suspects. One is Rita Jensen (Sommer), the mistress
of the bank's vice-president, Franz Benninger (Anton Diffring
). There is also Benninger himself as well as Korsak (Arthur Brauss) and Sando (David Hess), who are out to kill Hayes and Christopher.
Bank president Johann Hurtil (Ray Milland
) cannot believe that Benninger is corrupt. However, it emerges that the latter transferred control of a bank account to his mistress, who was legally entitled to it but didn't have the correct documents.
Captain Hans Frey (Inigo Gallo) of the Swiss Federal Police is suspicious of Christopher's activities and follows him.
The bank decides to pay the blackmailer, using uncut diamonds. Christopher insists on accompanying the diamonds to the collection point high in the snow-covered Alps. The blackmailees turn out to be blackmailing each other and the collector of the diamonds is shot, falling off a high alpine rock face. Christopher recovers the stones
1976 in film
The year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
starring David Janssen
David Janssen
David Janssen was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Kimble in the television series The Fugitive , the starring role in the 1950s hit detective series Richard Diamond, Private Detective , and as Harry Orwell on Harry O.In 1996 TV Guide...
, Senta Berger
Senta Berger
Senta Berger is an Austrian film, stage and television actress, producer and author.Regarded by critics as one of the greatest actresses of the post-war period, and frequently named as one of the leading German-speaking actresses in polls, Berger has received many award nominations for her acting...
and Elke Sommer
Elke Sommer
Elke Sommer , born Baroness Elke Schletz, is a German actress, entertainer and artist.-Career:Sommer was born in Berlin to a Lutheran minister and his wife...
, directed by Jack Arnold. It was co-produced between Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Plot summary
A Swiss bank learns that the confidentiality of several anonymous numbered accounts has been compromised and blackmailBlackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
threats have been made to five holders of the accounts. They include a crooked arms dealer, who received a demand for five million Swiss francs. He refuses to pay and is shot dead. The bank is also told to pay ten million francs to keep the accounts secret.
The bank hires David Christopher (Janssen), a former U.S. Treasury official who now resides in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. In the course of his investigation, Christopher talks to the four living blackmailees -- beautiful Zürich resident Denise Abbott (Berger), Texas businessman Dwight McGowan (John Ireland
John Ireland (actor)
John Benjamin Ireland was an actor and film director.-Biography:Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, he was raised in New York City from the age of 18. He started out in minor stage roles on Broadway...
), Chicago crook Robert Hayes (John Saxon
John Saxon
John Saxon may refer to:* John Saxon , motion picture actor, specializing in action films* John Saxon , known for developing a new system of mathematics education...
) and Dutchman Andre Kosta (Curt Lowens
Curt Lowens
Curt Lowens is a German actor of the stage and films, and a survivor and resistant of the Holocaust.-Life and career:...
).
He identifies a number of suspects. One is Rita Jensen (Sommer), the mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of the bank's vice-president, Franz Benninger (Anton Diffring
Anton Diffring
Anton Diffring , born Alfred Pollack, was a German actor.-Biography:Diffring was born in Koblenz...
). There is also Benninger himself as well as Korsak (Arthur Brauss) and Sando (David Hess), who are out to kill Hayes and Christopher.
Bank president Johann Hurtil (Ray Milland
Ray Milland
Ray Milland was a Welsh actor and director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985, and he is best remembered for his Academy Award–winning portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend , a sophisticated leading man opposite a corrupt John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind , the murder-plotting...
) cannot believe that Benninger is corrupt. However, it emerges that the latter transferred control of a bank account to his mistress, who was legally entitled to it but didn't have the correct documents.
Captain Hans Frey (Inigo Gallo) of the Swiss Federal Police is suspicious of Christopher's activities and follows him.
The bank decides to pay the blackmailer, using uncut diamonds. Christopher insists on accompanying the diamonds to the collection point high in the snow-covered Alps. The blackmailees turn out to be blackmailing each other and the collector of the diamonds is shot, falling off a high alpine rock face. Christopher recovers the stones