A Place in the Sun
A chance meeting with his uncle leads to George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) being caught in the middle of two worlds, neither side in which he truly belongs. The son of poor missionaries, his father who has passed away, George met his wealthy paternal uncle Charles Eastman (Herbert Heyes) while George was working as a bellhop in his uncle's hotel in Chicago, Illinois. Wanting a better life for himself, George takes his uncle up on his offer for a placement somewhere in one of the Eastman factories, Charles' want in this offer being for any Eastman to take his proper place in the world. Under the directive of his cousin Earl (Keefe Brasselle), George is placed on the factory assembly line, largely neglected by the Eastmans as a whole. Regardless, George still does see this position as a stepping stone to something better, for which he is willing to work hard to achieve. George, lonely in his new surroundings, breaks the company rule of no fraternizing with fellow employees when he starts to date fellow Eastman assembly line worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters). Several months later, Charles, remembering about his nephew, promotes George both professionally and personally. Although uncomfortable in society gatherings, George eventually is befriended by one person in this new world, the beautiful society maiden Angela Vickers (Dame Elizabeth Taylor), who George fell in love with at first sight even before he arrived in town. Angela too falls in love with George, which does not sit well with her parents if only because they know nothing of him. George is caught between his want for prosperity and being with Angela, the woman he truly loves, and his obligations to needy Alice, who learns of his society friends and Angela, who ends up getting pregnant by him, and who uses whatever means in her limited powers to pressure him to do right by her in marrying her.
Despite its small-scale budget of $2.3M, A Place in the Sun became a financial success, earning $7.0M worldwide—a 204% return. The film's distinctive approach resonated with audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
6 Oscars. 15 wins & 10 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 Place in the Sun (1951) showcases strategically placed story structure, characteristic of George Stevens's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 2 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
George Eastman
Angela Vickers
Alice Tripp
Hannah Eastman
Charles Eastman
Marlowe
Main Cast & Characters
George Eastman
Played by Montgomery Clift
A poor young man who pursues wealth and status through his wealthy relatives, becoming entangled in a tragic love triangle
Angela Vickers
Played by Elizabeth Taylor
A beautiful, wealthy socialite who represents everything George desires - status, beauty, and belonging to high society
Alice Tripp
Played by Shelley Winters
A lonely factory worker who falls in love with George and becomes pregnant, standing in the way of his social ambitions
Hannah Eastman
Played by Anne Revere
George's mother, a stern street missionary who raised him in poverty and religious strictness
Charles Eastman
Played by Herbert Heyes
George's wealthy uncle who owns the factory and offers him a chance at advancement, but maintains class boundaries
Marlowe
Played by Raymond Burr
The district attorney who prosecutes George with relentless determination, convinced of his guilt
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes George Eastman, a poor young man, hitchhikes toward the city, gazing up at a billboard advertising his wealthy uncle's factory, establishing his outsider status and yearning for a better life.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when George meets Alice Tripp, a lonely factory girl, at the movies. Despite company policy, they begin a relationship that offers him companionship but violates his uncle's warning.. 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.
The First Threshold at 32 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to At a society party, George meets and becomes entranced by Angela Vickers, a beautiful socialite. He actively chooses to pursue this glamorous new world, decisively crossing into a life he'd only dreamed of., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Alice reveals she is pregnant and demands George marry her, threatening to expose their relationship. What seemed like George's perfect ascent suddenly becomes a trap; his two worlds collide catastrophically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, George takes Alice on a boat ride with dark intentions. When the boat capsizes, Alice drowns while George swims to safety. Whether murder or accident, his dream dies with her—both literally (death) and symbolically (his moral innocence)., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 98 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. During the trial, George realizes he cannot escape the truth. He must face what he's done, even as he maintains he didn't actively murder Alice. He crosses into acceptance of his fate and the consequences of his choices., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Place in the Sun's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping A Place in the Sun against these established plot points, we can identify how George Stevens utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Place in the Sun within the drama genre.
George Stevens's Structural Approach
Among the 4 George Stevens films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. A Place in the Sun takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete George Stevens filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more George Stevens analyses, see Shane, The Greatest Story Ever Told and Giant.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
George Eastman, a poor young man, hitchhikes toward the city, gazing up at a billboard advertising his wealthy uncle's factory, establishing his outsider status and yearning for a better life.
Theme
George's uncle warns him about the dangers of mixing with factory workers and getting involved with women, foreshadowing the central conflict between ambition and desire: "Here we are, at the bottom rung of the ladder, looking up at the top."
Worldbuilding
George begins working at his uncle's factory, isolated and lonely due to company policy against fraternizing. We see his poverty, his ambition, and the class divide between him and his wealthy relatives.
Disruption
George meets Alice Tripp, a lonely factory girl, at the movies. Despite company policy, they begin a relationship that offers him companionship but violates his uncle's warning.
Resistance
George becomes involved with Alice while simultaneously being promoted and invited into his wealthy relatives' social circle. He debates between his relationship with Alice and his aspirations for upper-class acceptance.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
At a society party, George meets and becomes entranced by Angela Vickers, a beautiful socialite. He actively chooses to pursue this glamorous new world, decisively crossing into a life he'd only dreamed of.
Mirror World
George and Angela begin their romance. Angela represents everything George desires: beauty, wealth, acceptance. She embodies the thematic question of whether love and ambition can coexist, or if one must destroy the other.
Premise
George experiences the promise of his dreams: romance with Angela, acceptance into high society, professional advancement. The audience enjoys the glamorous world and passionate love affair they came to see.
Midpoint
Alice reveals she is pregnant and demands George marry her, threatening to expose their relationship. What seemed like George's perfect ascent suddenly becomes a trap; his two worlds collide catastrophically.
Opposition
George desperately tries to find a solution—seeking an illegal abortion, attempting to reason with Alice—while maintaining his relationship with Angela. The pressure intensifies as Alice becomes more insistent and Angela's family plans their future.
Collapse
George takes Alice on a boat ride with dark intentions. When the boat capsizes, Alice drowns while George swims to safety. Whether murder or accident, his dream dies with her—both literally (death) and symbolically (his moral innocence).
Crisis
George attempts to continue his life with Angela, but the weight of what happened haunts him. He is arrested and must face the darkness of his actions and the impossibility of escaping his guilt.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
During the trial, George realizes he cannot escape the truth. He must face what he's done, even as he maintains he didn't actively murder Alice. He crosses into acceptance of his fate and the consequences of his choices.
Synthesis
The trial unfolds, George is convicted and sentenced to death. In his final moments, he reconciles with his spiritual advisor and has a last farewell with Angela, synthesizing the love he found with the price he must pay.
Transformation
George walks to his execution, transformed from the ambitious dreamer we met to a condemned man who reached for the sun and fell. His final image contrasts completely with the hopeful hitchhiker of the opening.