All the President's Men
During the 1972 elections, two reporters' investigation sheds light on the controversial Watergate scandal that compels President Nixon to resign from his post.
Despite its small-scale budget of $8.5M, All the President's Men became a box office phenomenon, earning $70.6M worldwide—a remarkable 731% return. The film's bold vision attracted moviegoers, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
All the President's Men (1976) showcases carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Alan J. Pakula's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 18 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Bob Woodward
Carl Bernstein
Deep Throat
Ben Bradlee
Harry Rosenfeld
Howard Simons
Main Cast & Characters
Bob Woodward
Played by Robert Redford
Methodical Washington Post reporter who investigates the Watergate break-in with meticulous fact-checking and source verification.
Carl Bernstein
Played by Dustin Hoffman
Aggressive, streetwise Washington Post reporter who pursues leads with bold interpersonal tactics and intuitive hunches.
Deep Throat
Played by Hal Holbrook
Anonymous government source who guides Woodward with cryptic warnings in parking garage meetings, never confirming directly.
Ben Bradlee
Played by Jason Robards
Tough, principled Washington Post editor who demands absolute proof while protecting his reporters from political pressure.
Harry Rosenfeld
Played by Jack Warden
Metropolitan editor at the Post who champions Woodward and Bernstein's story against skeptical colleagues.
Howard Simons
Played by Martin Balsam
Managing editor who works with Bradlee to evaluate the risk and credibility of the Watergate investigation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Washington Post newsroom in its ordinary state. Reporters work on routine stories. Woodward is a junior reporter covering mundane assignments.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Woodward discovers Howard Hunt's connection to the White House during the burglars' arraignment. What seemed like a simple break-in suddenly has ties to the Nixon administration.. 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 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Woodward and Bernstein officially become partners ("Woodstein") and commit to investigating the money trail. They choose to pursue the story despite institutional resistance and personal risk., moving from reaction to action.
At 70 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: The Post publishes the story connecting high-ranking officials to the slush fund. It appears they've broken through—but immediately the White House denies everything, and other media won't confirm. Stakes raise., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 103 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Sloan error is exposed. Bradlee confronts them: their credibility is destroyed, the story may die, and the Post could be ruined. The whiff of death—their journalistic integrity and the investigation itself may not survive., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 110 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Deep Throat meeting in the parking garage. He confirms their reporting is fundamentally correct: "They're scared. Mitchell was involved. Everyone was." They realize their mistake was procedural, not substantive. New resolve., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
All the President's Men's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping All the President's Men against these established plot points, we can identify how Alan J. Pakula utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish All the President's Men within the drama genre.
Alan J. Pakula's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Alan J. Pakula films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. All the President's Men takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alan J. Pakula filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Alan J. Pakula analyses, see Presumed Innocent, Consenting Adults and Starting Over.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Washington Post newsroom in its ordinary state. Reporters work on routine stories. Woodward is a junior reporter covering mundane assignments.
Theme
Editor Ben Bradlee questions the significance of the break-in: "You guys are probably pretty tired, right? Well, you should be." The theme emerges: small details can reveal massive truths if pursued relentlessly.
Worldbuilding
Establishing the Washington Post hierarchy, newsroom culture, and initial coverage of what appears to be a routine burglary at the Watergate. Woodward and Bernstein are introduced as rivals, not partners.
Disruption
Woodward discovers Howard Hunt's connection to the White House during the burglars' arraignment. What seemed like a simple break-in suddenly has ties to the Nixon administration.
Resistance
Woodward and Bernstein debate whether to pursue the story. They compete for bylines, develop sources, and begin to see patterns. Deep Throat appears as a guide, cryptic but directing Woodward to follow the money.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Woodward and Bernstein officially become partners ("Woodstein") and commit to investigating the money trail. They choose to pursue the story despite institutional resistance and personal risk.
Mirror World
The reporters meet bookkeeper Hugh Sloan, who represents institutional integrity—someone inside the system willing to tell the truth. He embodies the theme: truth-tellers exist even in corrupt systems.
Premise
The investigative journalism promised by the premise. Phone calls, door-knocking, late nights, following leads. The reporters trace CREEP funds, identify the slush fund, and build their case methodically.
Midpoint
False victory: The Post publishes the story connecting high-ranking officials to the slush fund. It appears they've broken through—but immediately the White House denies everything, and other media won't confirm. Stakes raise.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies from all sides: White House denials, threats to sources, Nixon's landslide re-election, isolation from other media outlets. The reporters make a critical error misidentifying Hugh Sloan's testimony.
Collapse
The Sloan error is exposed. Bradlee confronts them: their credibility is destroyed, the story may die, and the Post could be ruined. The whiff of death—their journalistic integrity and the investigation itself may not survive.
Crisis
Dark night. Woodward and Bernstein process the collapse, question their methods, and face the possibility of failure. They must decide whether to continue despite the setback.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Deep Throat meeting in the parking garage. He confirms their reporting is fundamentally correct: "They're scared. Mitchell was involved. Everyone was." They realize their mistake was procedural, not substantive. New resolve.
Synthesis
Final push: synthesizing all their accumulated knowledge with renewed rigor. They confirm sources, nail down details, and build an airtight case connecting the conspiracy to the highest levels of government.
Transformation
The newsroom erupts with teletype sounds announcing Nixon's resignation, impeachment proceedings, and convictions of administration officials. The closing image: typewriters clacking as history is written. Truth prevailed.