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!