Save the Tiger (1973)

In the heart of a twenty-four-hour whirlwind, we follow the life of Angelo Harry Stoner, a middle-aged WWII veteran once stationed in Italy, now the owner of Capri Casuals, a supposedly successful women's wear manufacturer tucked in the lavish comfort of Beverly Hills. Harry, mired in the disillusionment of his current existence, confronts a relentless tide of crises while haunted by the ghosts of his war-torn past. Harry's life, once ablaze with passion, is now extinguished into a cold, emotionally sterile relationship with his wife, Janet, who embarks on a week-long personal sojourn to New York. Amid this emotional estrangement, Harry is plunged into a bitter dispute between his employees: Meyer, a skilled yet traditional cutter, and Rico, the young designer with an inflated ego and a knack for plagiarizing designs. While preparing for their seasonal fashion show, a beacon of hope for their plummeting sales, Harry and his business partner, Phil Greene, grapple with the threat of their company's insolvency. They've already waded into murky waters by falsifying their books, a damning transgression that would spell disaster if discovered. As Phil contemplates seeking financial salvation from the mob, Harry ponders on a more desperate measure: hiring Charlie Robbins, a notorious arsonist, to set their factory ablaze for insurance money. In the midst of this chaos, Harry crosses paths with Myra, a free-spirited young woman who lingers along the Sunset Strip. Their interaction, however, might only serve to underline the growing chasm between their generations. Harry's day spirals further out of control as he finds himself embroiled in an animal rights campaign, a fashion show, and a disconcerting flashback to his days at war. "Save the Tiger" delivers an intricate mosaic of Harry Stoner's life, a man teetering on the brink of despair, grappling with his crumbling reality while yearning for an escape into the blissful ignorance of his past. The film paints an unflinching portrait of a man's struggle against his personal and professional demons within a single day and a half, plunging audiences into his world of unusual episodes and uncomfortable reminiscences.

Save the Tiger is a drama movie featuring Jack Lemmon and directed by John G. Avildsen.

Save the Tiger is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and Pluto TV.

It is also possible to buy Save the Tiger on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.