Adam's Rib
When a woman attempts to kill her uncaring husband, prosecutor Adam Bonner gets the case. Unfortunately for him his wife Amanda, also a lawyer, decides to defend the woman in court. Amanda uses everything she can to win the case and Adam gets mad about it, and their perfect marriage is disturbed by daily petty squabbles.
Despite its tight budget of $1.7M, Adam's Rib became a solid performer, earning $9.5M worldwide—a 448% return. The film's fresh perspective engaged audiences, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 1 win & 4 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%)
Adam's Rib (1949) exhibits precise plot construction, characteristic of George Cukor's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Amanda Bonner
Adam Bonner
Doris Attinger
Kip Lurie
Main Cast & Characters
Amanda Bonner
Played by Katharine Hepburn
A passionate defense attorney who takes on a case defending a woman who shot her husband, challenging her prosecutor husband in court.
Adam Bonner
Played by Spencer Tracy
An assistant district attorney who prosecutes a case against his wife's client, struggling to balance professional duty with marital harmony.
Doris Attinger
Played by Judy Holliday
A working-class woman on trial for shooting her unfaithful husband, becoming the center of a gender equality debate.
Kip Lurie
Played by David Wayne
A charming songwriter and neighbor who becomes attracted to Amanda, creating tension in the Bonner marriage.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Amanda and Adam Bonner in their loving, playful marriage - successful Manhattan lawyers who share breakfast and affectionate banter, establishing their equal partnership and mutual respect.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Doris Attinger shoots her husband Warren and his mistress Beryl in a jealous rage. This crime of passion sets the central conflict in motion and will divide the Bonners professionally.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Amanda makes the irreversible decision to take Doris Attinger's case, fully knowing it will pit her against Adam in court. The battle lines are drawn - their marriage enters uncharted territory., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Amanda scores a major victory by bringing in a female witness (the acrobat) to demonstrate that women can do anything men can do, humiliating Adam in court. False victory - she's winning the case but damaging her marriage., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Adam moves out of their home. The marriage itself is dying - what started as professional opposition has destroyed their personal bond. The relationship that seemed unshakeable in the opening is now broken., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Amanda has an epiphany - she stages a scene with a gun to make Adam feel what Doris felt, to prove her point one final time. But her theatrical demonstration backfires, revealing the absurdity of taking the battle too far., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Adam's Rib's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Adam's Rib against these established plot points, we can identify how George Cukor utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Adam's Rib within the comedy genre.
George Cukor's Structural Approach
Among the 4 George Cukor films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Adam's Rib represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete George Cukor filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more George Cukor analyses, see My Fair Lady, The Philadelphia Story and A Star Is Born.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Amanda and Adam Bonner in their loving, playful marriage - successful Manhattan lawyers who share breakfast and affectionate banter, establishing their equal partnership and mutual respect.
Theme
Kip Lurie (their neighbor) observes the Bonners' relationship dynamic and makes a casual remark about equality between men and women, planting the thematic question about gender roles in marriage and society.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Bonners' world: their sophisticated Manhattan life, successful legal careers, warm friendship with Kip, and the playful competition that defines their relationship. Doris Attinger follows her philandering husband Warren.
Disruption
Doris Attinger shoots her husband Warren and his mistress Beryl in a jealous rage. This crime of passion sets the central conflict in motion and will divide the Bonners professionally.
Resistance
Adam is assigned to prosecute Doris Attinger. Amanda, moved by feminist principles and seeing the case as symbolic of gender inequality, decides to defend Doris. They debate whether to oppose each other professionally.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Amanda makes the irreversible decision to take Doris Attinger's case, fully knowing it will pit her against Adam in court. The battle lines are drawn - their marriage enters uncharted territory.
Mirror World
Kip Lurie becomes more prominent as observer and commentator on the Bonners' conflict, representing an outside perspective on their marriage and the gender battle. His presence highlights what's at stake in their relationship.
Premise
The courtroom battle begins - the "fun and games" of watching two brilliant lawyers who are married duel in court. Amanda employs clever tactics to prove gender bias, while Adam prosecutes by the book. Witty exchanges and legal maneuvering.
Midpoint
Amanda scores a major victory by bringing in a female witness (the acrobat) to demonstrate that women can do anything men can do, humiliating Adam in court. False victory - she's winning the case but damaging her marriage.
Opposition
The professional conflict bleeds into their personal life. Tension escalates at home - arguments become bitter, the playfulness disappears. Amanda's success in court drives a deeper wedge between them. Adam feels emasculated and betrayed.
Collapse
Adam moves out of their home. The marriage itself is dying - what started as professional opposition has destroyed their personal bond. The relationship that seemed unshakeable in the opening is now broken.
Crisis
Amanda wins the case - Doris is acquitted. But the victory is hollow as Amanda faces the reality that she's lost what truly matters. She processes the cost of her principles and wonders if winning was worth destroying her marriage.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Amanda has an epiphany - she stages a scene with a gun to make Adam feel what Doris felt, to prove her point one final time. But her theatrical demonstration backfires, revealing the absurdity of taking the battle too far.
Synthesis
Adam and Amanda reconcile at their country house. They acknowledge their mistakes - both took things too far. They agree that in their relationship, equality matters less than love and partnership. They reaffirm their commitment to each other.
Transformation
The Bonners in bed together, laughing and affectionate again - but now with deeper understanding. They've learned that marriage requires compromise and that being "right" matters less than being together. The partnership is restored, wiser for the conflict.