Beaches
A privileged rich debutante and a cynical struggling entertainer share a turbulent, but strong childhood friendship over the years.
Despite a mid-range budget of $20.0M, Beaches became a solid performer, earning $57.0M worldwide—a 185% return.
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%)
Beaches (1988) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Garry Marshall's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 3 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
C.C. Bloom
Hillary Whitney Essex
John Pierce
Michael Essex
Main Cast & Characters
C.C. Bloom
Played by Bette Midler
An ambitious, brash singer from the Bronx who dreams of stardom and maintains a lifelong friendship despite her self-centered tendencies.
Hillary Whitney Essex
Played by Barbara Hershey
A wealthy, refined San Francisco heiress who becomes a lawyer and struggles to balance duty with personal fulfillment.
John Pierce
Played by John Heard
C.C.'s director and love interest who represents her romantic struggles and career entanglements.
Michael Essex
Played by Spalding Gray
Hillary's wealthy, controlling husband who embodies the conventional life she initially chooses.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Hillary receives devastating news about CC and rushes to the hospital, framing the story in loss. The film opens on the "after" - what has been lost - before flashing back to show us what was.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Adult Hillary impulsively travels to New York to reconnect with CC after years of letters. Their reunion is electric - the childhood bond instantly rekindled, now between grown women navigating adult lives.. 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Hillary chooses to stay in New York and pursue her own path, defying her family's expectations. She takes a job as a public interest lawyer and fully commits to building an independent life alongside CC, cementing their adult friendship., moving from reaction to action.
At 63 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat CC and Michael have an affair, betraying Hillary. When Hillary discovers the betrayal, the friendship shatters. This false defeat raises the stakes - can a friendship survive such profound betrayal? The fun and games are over., 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, Hillary is diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy - a terminal illness. The whiff of death is literal. She reaches out to CC, and they tentatively reconcile, but the shadow of mortality now hangs over everything., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 100 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. CC and Hillary achieve full reconciliation. They realize their friendship transcends all betrayals and mistakes. CC promises to care for Hillary's daughter Victoria, and Hillary accepts her fate with grace, knowing their bond is unbreakable., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Beaches'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 Beaches against these established plot points, we can identify how Garry Marshall utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Beaches within the comedy genre.
Garry Marshall's Structural Approach
Among the 14 Garry Marshall films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Beaches represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Garry Marshall filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Garry Marshall analyses, see Runaway Bride, Frankie and Johnny and New Year's Eve.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Hillary receives devastating news about CC and rushes to the hospital, framing the story in loss. The film opens on the "after" - what has been lost - before flashing back to show us what was.
Theme
Young CC and Hillary meet under the Atlantic City boardwalk. CC says, "You're my friend, aren't you?" establishing the film's thematic core: the enduring power of female friendship across class, distance, and life's upheavals.
Worldbuilding
Young CC (working-class, brash, theatrical) and Hillary (wealthy, reserved, proper) form an unlikely friendship in Atlantic City. They correspond through letters as they grow up in vastly different worlds - CC pursuing show business in New York, Hillary attending boarding school and college.
Disruption
Adult Hillary impulsively travels to New York to reconnect with CC after years of letters. Their reunion is electric - the childhood bond instantly rekindled, now between grown women navigating adult lives.
Resistance
Hillary moves in with CC in her tiny New York apartment. They navigate their differences - CC's struggling performer life vs. Hillary's privileged background. CC pursues her career relentlessly while Hillary explores independence from her controlling family. Both women debate what they want from life.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Hillary chooses to stay in New York and pursue her own path, defying her family's expectations. She takes a job as a public interest lawyer and fully commits to building an independent life alongside CC, cementing their adult friendship.
Mirror World
Hillary meets and falls in love with Michael Essex, CC's director. This romantic subplot will test the friendship and illuminate the theme - what happens when love and ambition collide with loyalty?
Premise
The promise of the premise: watching these two very different women support each other through career struggles, romantic relationships, and life milestones. CC's career begins to take off. Hillary marries Michael. Both women experience the joys and complications of their choices.
Midpoint
CC and Michael have an affair, betraying Hillary. When Hillary discovers the betrayal, the friendship shatters. This false defeat raises the stakes - can a friendship survive such profound betrayal? The fun and games are over.
Opposition
Years pass with CC and Hillary estranged. CC achieves massive fame but remains emotionally unfulfilled. Hillary divorces Michael and raises her daughter Victoria alone. Both women struggle with the hole left by their broken friendship, facing life's challenges without each other.
Collapse
Hillary is diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy - a terminal illness. The whiff of death is literal. She reaches out to CC, and they tentatively reconcile, but the shadow of mortality now hangs over everything.
Crisis
CC and Hillary navigate the darkness of Hillary's declining health. Old resentments resurface even as they try to reconnect. Hillary must face her death; CC must face losing her oldest, truest friend and her own role in their years apart.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
CC and Hillary achieve full reconciliation. They realize their friendship transcends all betrayals and mistakes. CC promises to care for Hillary's daughter Victoria, and Hillary accepts her fate with grace, knowing their bond is unbreakable.
Synthesis
Hillary's final days at the beach house with CC and Victoria. CC performs for Hillary one last time. Hillary dies peacefully, having made peace with her life. CC fulfills her promise, becoming Victoria's guardian and keeping Hillary's memory alive.
Transformation
CC and Victoria play on the beach where young CC and Hillary first met under the boardwalk. The opening image is reversed - loss has transformed into legacy. The friendship endures beyond death through the next generation.