An Ideal Husband
Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful government minister, well-off and with a loving wife. All this is threatened when Mrs Cheveley appears in London with damning evidence of a past misdeed. Sir Robert turns for help to his friend Lord Goring, an apparently idle philanderer and the despair of his father. Goring knows the lady of old, and, for him, takes the whole thing pretty seriously.
Working with a modest budget of $14.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $18.5M in global revenue (+32% profit margin).
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%)
An Ideal Husband (1999) showcases precise plot construction, characteristic of Oliver Parker's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Sir Robert Chiltern
Mrs. Laura Cheveley
Lord Arthur Goring
Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Mabel Chiltern
Lord Caversham
Main Cast & Characters
Sir Robert Chiltern
Played by Jeremy Northam
A respected politician whose past scandal threatens his career and marriage when blackmailed by Mrs. Cheveley.
Mrs. Laura Cheveley
Played by Julianne Moore
A cunning blackmailer who returns to London society to extort Sir Robert over his youthful indiscretion.
Lord Arthur Goring
Played by Rupert Everett
A witty, seemingly idle bachelor who helps his friend navigate the blackmail crisis with wisdom and charm.
Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Played by Cate Blanchett
Sir Robert's idealistic wife who holds impossibly high moral standards for her husband.
Mabel Chiltern
Played by Minnie Driver
Sir Robert's spirited younger sister who pursues a romance with Lord Goring.
Lord Caversham
Played by John Wood
Lord Goring's traditional father who pressures his son to marry and settle down.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Chilterns host a glittering reception. Sir Robert is celebrated as an ideal politician and husband, admired by his wife Gertrude for his unwavering moral principles. Their world is one of elegance, respect, and unblemished reputation.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Mrs. Cheveley privately blackmails Sir Robert, revealing she knows about his corrupt secret from years ago: he sold cabinet secrets to make his fortune. She threatens to expose him unless he supports her fraudulent Argentine Canal scheme.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Robert chooses to confess his past corruption to Gertrude, hoping for understanding and forgiveness. This irreversible decision forces him out of his protected world of secrets and into vulnerability., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False defeat: Gertrude rejects Robert after his confession, unable to reconcile her ideal of him with the flawed reality. She demands he withdraw from public life. The marriage appears broken, and Mrs. Cheveley seems to have won. Stakes are raised., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 73 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Robert's political career and marriage appear destroyed. Mrs. Cheveley has apparently triumphed completely. The death of Robert's idealized self is complete—he faces public scandal and private disgrace. All seems lost., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Lord Goring discovers evidence to expose Mrs. Cheveley's own criminal past (a stolen brooch). This revelation, combined with Gertrude's growing understanding of human complexity, provides the synthesis needed for resolution. Truth becomes weaponized for good., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
An Ideal Husband's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping An Ideal Husband against these established plot points, we can identify how Oliver Parker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish An Ideal Husband within the drama genre.
Oliver Parker's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Oliver Parker films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. An Ideal Husband represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Oliver Parker filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Oliver Parker analyses, see The Importance of Being Earnest, Johnny English Reborn and Dorian Gray.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Chilterns host a glittering reception. Sir Robert is celebrated as an ideal politician and husband, admired by his wife Gertrude for his unwavering moral principles. Their world is one of elegance, respect, and unblemished reputation.
Theme
Gertrude declares that she could never love a man who was anything less than morally perfect, stating "I have always stood a little in awe of my husband's almost saintly goodness." The theme of impossible ideals versus human reality is established.
Worldbuilding
We meet the key players: Sir Robert Chiltern (respected politician), Gertrude (his morally rigid wife), Lord Goring (charming bachelor friend), Mabel (Goring's spirited love interest), and Mrs. Cheveley (mysterious woman from the past). The world of London high society and political power is established.
Disruption
Mrs. Cheveley privately blackmails Sir Robert, revealing she knows about his corrupt secret from years ago: he sold cabinet secrets to make his fortune. She threatens to expose him unless he supports her fraudulent Argentine Canal scheme.
Resistance
Robert debates whether to give in to blackmail or confess to his wife. He confides in Lord Goring, who advises him to tell Gertrude the truth. Robert resists, knowing her rigid moral standards. Meanwhile, Mrs. Cheveley manipulates and threatens, increasing pressure.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Robert chooses to confess his past corruption to Gertrude, hoping for understanding and forgiveness. This irreversible decision forces him out of his protected world of secrets and into vulnerability.
Mirror World
Lord Goring and Mabel's romantic subplot deepens. Goring represents the thematic counterpoint: a man who appears frivolous but possesses genuine wisdom and moral flexibility. His relationship embodies acceptance of human imperfection.
Premise
The promise of the premise: watching brilliant Oscar Wilde dialogue as characters navigate the gap between public reputation and private truth. Schemes, witty repartee, romantic complications, and social maneuvering as everyone tries to manage the crisis and their own desires.
Midpoint
False defeat: Gertrude rejects Robert after his confession, unable to reconcile her ideal of him with the flawed reality. She demands he withdraw from public life. The marriage appears broken, and Mrs. Cheveley seems to have won. Stakes are raised.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies. Mrs. Cheveley continues to manipulate and threaten. Gertrude's rigid morality pushes Robert toward ruin. Romantic misunderstandings complicate Goring's subplot. Robert faces losing everything: wife, career, reputation. The antagonist closes in.
Collapse
Robert's political career and marriage appear destroyed. Mrs. Cheveley has apparently triumphed completely. The death of Robert's idealized self is complete—he faces public scandal and private disgrace. All seems lost.
Crisis
Robert and Gertrude separately process their losses. Gertrude begins to question her own rigid standards. Robert confronts his shame. Both face the darkness of their imperfect humanity and failed ideals.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lord Goring discovers evidence to expose Mrs. Cheveley's own criminal past (a stolen brooch). This revelation, combined with Gertrude's growing understanding of human complexity, provides the synthesis needed for resolution. Truth becomes weaponized for good.
Synthesis
The finale: Goring confronts and defeats Mrs. Cheveley using her own secrets against her. Gertrude learns to accept Robert's flawed humanity and forgives him. Robert is saved from scandal. Multiple romantic resolutions occur. The wedding of understanding and acceptance.
Transformation
The Chilterns together again, but transformed. Gertrude has abandoned her impossible idealism and embraced real love for a real man. Robert has been forgiven and freed. The final image shows not an "ideal" husband, but a real marriage built on acceptance and truth.