A Chorus Line
A director is casting dancers for a large production. Large numbers of hopefulls audition, hoping to be selected. Throughout the day, more and more people are eliminated, and the competition gets harder. Eventually, approximately a dozen dancers must compete for a few spots, each hoping to impress the director with their dancing skill. But, is this really what the director is looking for?
The film struggled financially against its moderate budget of $25.0M, earning $14.2M globally (-43% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its distinctive approach within the drama genre.
Nominated for 3 Oscars. 8 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
A Chorus Line (1985) exhibits meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Richard Attenborough's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Zach
Cassie
Diana Morales
Paul San Marco
Sheila Bryant
Val Clark
Mike Costa
Greg Gardner
Judy Turner
Richie Walters
Connie Wong
Main Cast & Characters
Zach
Played by Michael Douglas
The demanding director holding auditions, pushing dancers to reveal their deepest truths.
Cassie
Played by Alyson Reed
A former star dancer desperate for a comeback, confronting her past relationship with Zach.
Diana Morales
Played by Yamil Borges
A Puerto Rican dancer who found her voice through performing, sharing her struggle with acting class.
Paul San Marco
Played by Cameron English
A vulnerable young gay dancer who shares his painful coming-out story and family rejection.
Sheila Bryant
Played by Vicki Frederick
A veteran dancer in her thirties, cynical and protective, fearing age will end her career.
Val Clark
Played by Audrey Landers
A confident dancer who enhanced her appearance through plastic surgery to succeed in show business.
Mike Costa
Played by Terrence Mann
An athletic, charismatic dancer who learned to perform from his street-smart childhood.
Greg Gardner
Played by Justin Ross
A gay dancer in a committed relationship, representing stability and partnership.
Judy Turner
Played by Janet Jones
An insecure dancer who has always felt inadequate and invisible despite her talent.
Richie Walters
Played by Blane Savage
A charismatic performer who uses humor to deflect from his struggles with identity and expectations.
Connie Wong
Played by Jan Gan Boyd
A petite Asian-American dancer battling insecurities about her height and appearance.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Dancers flood into the audition space, a mass of hopeful performers competing for spots in the chorus line, establishing the high-stakes world of Broadway auditions.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Zach disrupts the standard audition by demanding the remaining dancers sit down and tell their personal stories, forcing them to be vulnerable and reveal themselves beyond their dance skills.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Paul shares his devastating story of being discovered as a drag performer by his parents, a false defeat moment that raises the emotional stakes and shows the cost of being truly seen., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Paul suffers a devastating knee injury during the dance combination, collapsing in agony. His dream dies as he's carried off, a literal "whiff of death" that reminds everyone how fragile their careers are., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The finale: the selected dancers perform "One" in full costume and makeup, synthesizing their individual stories into a unified chorus line while Zach and Cassie reach understanding about their past., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Chorus Line's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping A Chorus Line against these established plot points, we can identify how Richard Attenborough utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Chorus Line within the drama genre.
Richard Attenborough's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Richard Attenborough films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. A Chorus Line represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Richard Attenborough filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Richard Attenborough analyses, see Gandhi, Cry Freedom and In Love and War.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Dancers flood into the audition space, a mass of hopeful performers competing for spots in the chorus line, establishing the high-stakes world of Broadway auditions.
Theme
Zach, the director, tells the dancers "I want to know who you are" - stating the theme that this story is about identity, self-worth, and what makes each person unique beyond their ability to dance.
Worldbuilding
The grueling audition process unfolds as Zach cuts dancers down from hundreds to a small group, establishing the brutal competitive world, the power dynamics, and the desperation of performers who need this job.
Disruption
Zach disrupts the standard audition by demanding the remaining dancers sit down and tell their personal stories, forcing them to be vulnerable and reveal themselves beyond their dance skills.
Resistance
The dancers hesitate and debate whether to reveal their personal stories, struggling with vulnerability. They navigate the new rules of this audition where emotional honesty matters as much as technical ability.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The promise of the premise: we hear the dancers' diverse life stories - childhood struggles, family dysfunction, sexual awakening, and dreams of stardom. Each tale reveals the humanity behind anonymous chorus performers.
Midpoint
Paul shares his devastating story of being discovered as a drag performer by his parents, a false defeat moment that raises the emotional stakes and shows the cost of being truly seen.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies as Zach pushes harder, questioning their commitment and talent. Personal tensions rise, particularly between Zach and Cassie, as dancers face their deepest insecurities about whether they're good enough.
Collapse
Paul suffers a devastating knee injury during the dance combination, collapsing in agony. His dream dies as he's carried off, a literal "whiff of death" that reminds everyone how fragile their careers are.
Crisis
The dancers process Paul's injury in stunned silence, confronting their own mortality and the terrifying question of who they'd be if they couldn't dance. The darkness of their precarious existence settles in.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: the selected dancers perform "One" in full costume and makeup, synthesizing their individual stories into a unified chorus line while Zach and Cassie reach understanding about their past.