I'm happy to say that Michael Caine has always been perhaps a most 
favorite of mine of the British actors, only outdone in my books by Mel 
Gibson of Australia, Bob Hoskins and then Sir Anthony Hopkins. I do love 
dear Elizabeth McGovern (Once upon a time in America - with  Mr. Robert 
De Niro - my most favourite actor of ALL - along with Mr Al Pacino even
more yet) 

With corporate ambitions to climb as high as possible up that ladder, 
Michael Caine's character in this movie picture gets drawn into a game 
of serial murder - beginning with the realization that his wife must be a 
"witch" for being able to say "I forgive you for being a failure" as he sets 
upon his course of revenge and mayhem generally speaking on his 
determined course of action to remain virile in the corporate world in
which he seeks to be the dominant player at his company, in any event - 
one way or another, come what may! Elizabeth McGovern plays a vulnerable 
and quite lovely pawn to Caine's aspirations and desires - in the plot overall.