Barefoot in the Park
New Yorkers Paul Bratter and Corie Bratter née Banks have just gotten married. He is a stuffed shirt just starting his career as a lawyer. She is an independently minded free spirit who prides herself on doing the illogical purely out of a sense of adventure, such acts as walking through Washington Square Park barefoot when it's 17°F outside. Their six day honeymoon at the Plaza Hotel shows that they can get to know each other easily in the biblical sense. But they will see if they can get to know each other in their real life when they move into their first apartment, a cozy (in other words, small), slightly broken down top floor unit in a five story walk-up. While Corie joyfully bounds up and down the stairs, Paul, always winded after the fact, hates the fact of having to walk up the six flights of stairs, if one includes the stairs that comprise the outside front stoop. Beyond the issues with the apartment itself, Paul and Corie will have to deal with an odd assortment of neighbors, most specifically eccentric senior Victor Velasco, who lives in the unusual attic and who would like to consider himself a dirty old man. Corie, worried about her single straight-laced mother Ethel Banks, wants to set her up with Victor. Without Corie or Paul truly realizing it, Ethel and Victor as a twosome is as illogical as Corie and Paul. What happens between Ethel and Victor may be a predictor if Corie and Paul's marriage can make it in the long run.
Despite its limited budget of $2.0M, Barefoot in the Park became a runaway success, earning $30.0M worldwide—a remarkable 1400% return. The film's unconventional structure connected with viewers, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 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%)
Barefoot in the Park (1967) reveals deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Gene Saks's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 46 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Corie Bratter
Paul Bratter
Victor Velasco
Ethel Banks
Main Cast & Characters
Corie Bratter
Played by Jane Fonda
Free-spirited newlywed who embraces spontaneity and wants her conservative husband to loosen up and enjoy life's adventures.
Paul Bratter
Played by Robert Redford
Uptight young lawyer who prefers order, logic, and conventional behavior, struggling to adapt to his wife's impulsive lifestyle.
Victor Velasco
Played by Charles Boyer
Eccentric, charming older neighbor who lives life to the fullest and becomes a catalyst for the couple's marital conflict.
Ethel Banks
Played by Mildred Natwick
Corie's practical, conventional mother who unexpectedly finds romance and adventure with the bohemian Victor Velasco.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Corie and Paul exit their wedding, showered with rice. They are young, in love, and full of optimism as they begin their married life together.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Corie meets their eccentric upstairs neighbor Victor Velasco, a charming bohemian who lives in the attic. He represents everything Paul is not: spontaneous, artistic, unconventional, free-spirited. This introduces the lifestyle conflict that will test the marriage.. 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 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Paul reluctantly agrees to Corie's dinner party scheme, stepping into her world of spontaneity. He actively chooses to go along with her plan despite his discomfort, committing to try things her way., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Paul and Corie have major argument after returning from dinner. Paul is furious about the evening, calling Corie juvenile. Stakes raised: the fundamental incompatibility between them is now undeniable. False defeat - their marriage seems doomed by their differences., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Paul, drunk and trying to prove he can be spontaneous, climbs out on the skylight in the freezing cold and nearly falls to his death. The "whiff of death" is literal - he almost dies trying to be something he's not. The marriage has nearly killed him, metaphorically and literally., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 84% of the runtime. Corie has realization: she's been trying to change Paul instead of accepting him. She understands she needs to meet him halfway. She apologizes and acknowledges her part in their conflict. New understanding allows reconciliation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Barefoot in the Park'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 Barefoot in the Park against these established plot points, we can identify how Gene Saks utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Barefoot in the Park within the comedy genre.
Gene Saks's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Gene Saks films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Barefoot in the Park represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Gene Saks filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Gene Saks analyses, see The Odd Couple, Mame and Cactus Flower.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Corie and Paul exit their wedding, showered with rice. They are young, in love, and full of optimism as they begin their married life together.
Theme
Phone repairman comments on the apartment: "Lady, you're gonna have to learn to do without a few things." This encapsulates the film's theme about compromise, flexibility, and learning to embrace life's imperfections.
Worldbuilding
Corie and Paul arrive at their tiny fifth-floor walk-up apartment. We see their contrasting personalities: Corie is spontaneous and romantic, Paul is practical and conservative. The apartment has broken skylight, no heat, bathtub in kitchen. Corie's mother visits and is horrified. Paul is exhausted from work and climbing stairs.
Disruption
Corie meets their eccentric upstairs neighbor Victor Velasco, a charming bohemian who lives in the attic. He represents everything Paul is not: spontaneous, artistic, unconventional, free-spirited. This introduces the lifestyle conflict that will test the marriage.
Resistance
Corie becomes increasingly enchanted with bohemian lifestyle while Paul remains rigidly conventional. Victor continues to represent an alternative way of living. Corie plans a dinner party to set up her mother with Victor. Paul resists Corie's attempts to make him more spontaneous and fun-loving.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Paul reluctantly agrees to Corie's dinner party scheme, stepping into her world of spontaneity. He actively chooses to go along with her plan despite his discomfort, committing to try things her way.
Mirror World
The dinner party begins with Mother and Victor as the thematic mirrors to Paul and Corie. Their potential romance represents what happens when opposites learn to appreciate each other - the lesson Corie and Paul must learn.
Premise
The chaotic dinner party at a Albanian restaurant. Victor charms Mother, they drink, dance, and have adventures. Meanwhile, the contrast between Paul's stuffiness and everyone else's spontaneity becomes more pronounced. Paul tries to loosen up but fails. Fun and games of watching the unlikely matchmaking and culture clash.
Midpoint
Paul and Corie have major argument after returning from dinner. Paul is furious about the evening, calling Corie juvenile. Stakes raised: the fundamental incompatibility between them is now undeniable. False defeat - their marriage seems doomed by their differences.
Opposition
The marital conflict escalates. Paul becomes more rigid and controlling. Corie becomes more critical of his conservatism. They say hurtful things. Paul moves out. Mother sides with Paul, telling Corie she's being unreasonable. Victor tries to seduce Corie. Everything falls apart.
Collapse
Paul, drunk and trying to prove he can be spontaneous, climbs out on the skylight in the freezing cold and nearly falls to his death. The "whiff of death" is literal - he almost dies trying to be something he's not. The marriage has nearly killed him, metaphorically and literally.
Crisis
Paul is sick in bed from his exposure. Corie nurses him but they are still at odds. Both realize how extreme their positions have become. Dark night of processing: is their love enough? Can they bridge this gap? Quiet reflection on what really matters.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Corie has realization: she's been trying to change Paul instead of accepting him. She understands she needs to meet him halfway. She apologizes and acknowledges her part in their conflict. New understanding allows reconciliation.
Synthesis
Paul and Corie reconcile, both committing to compromise. Paul agrees to be more adventurous, Corie agrees to be more understanding. They find middle ground. Mother and Victor's relationship also resolves - they've found their balance too. The two couples represent the successful integration of spontaneity and stability.
Transformation
Final image: Paul walks barefoot in the park with Corie, literally doing what the title suggests - embracing spontaneity and freedom. But it's his choice, done with awareness, not reckless abandon. They've both transformed into more balanced people.