Friday, October 31, 2008

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID - 1969

DIRECTED BY GEORGE ROY HILL
WRITTEN BY WILLIAM GOLDMAN



Bryan Davidson analysis -
I like to break a story down into five basic beats:
  1. Exposition: The stakes for your main character are established.
  2. Complication: The stakes that have been established are put in jeopardy.
  3. Crisis: The stakes are forced – your main character has to act.
  4. Climax: Your main character makes a decisive action, which brings him or her closer to achieving or losing the stakes.
  5. Resolution: The stakes are won or lost.
It’s a basic template for a film’s overall arc.
What I like about this episode is that all five beats are hit in miniature – in four minutes! In this clip, the breakdown is:
  1. Exposition: Butch is returning to his Hole in the Wall gang, which he runs.
  2. Complication: Harvey challenges Butch’s leadership, proposing a plan of his own.
  3. Crisis: Harvey doesn’t back down, and challenges Butch to a knife fight.
  4. Climax: Butch outwits Logan, and defeats him.
  5. Resolution: Butch regains control of the Gang – and adopts Harvey’s plan.
Great scene - Thanks Bryan!

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