Bloodline
Sam Roffe, president of a multi-national pharmaceutical corporation, is killed while mountain-climbing. It is first determined to be an accident, but Inspector Max Hormung later deduces that Roffe was murdered. Sam's daughter Elizabeth assumes control of the company, and while traveling through Europe she immediately becomes a target as well. Suspicion falls on the Roffe cousins, all of whom want to go public with the company and sell their stock at a huge profit. Since this would be against her father's wishes, Elizabeth rejects their advice and decides to keep the company within the family. As Inspector Hormung investigates the background of the cousins, more attempts are made on Elizabeth's life. Hoping to reveal the guilty party, Hormung is able to connect these attempts to a series of murders on prostitutes, which are recorded on snuff films.
The film underperformed commercially against its small-scale budget of $12.0M, earning $8.2M globally (-32% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the crime genre.
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%)
Bloodline (1979) exemplifies meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Terence Young's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Elizabeth Roffe
Rhys Williams
Ivo Palazzi
Simonetta Palazzi
Sir Alec Nichols
Walther Gassner
Charles Martin
Detective Max Hornung
Main Cast & Characters
Elizabeth Roffe
Played by Audrey Hepburn
Pharmaceutical heiress investigating her father's suspicious death while running the family empire.
Rhys Williams
Played by Ben Gazzara
Elizabeth's cousin and trusted family member with his own agenda regarding the company.
Ivo Palazzi
Played by James Mason
Charming Italian cousin married into the Roffe family with financial troubles.
Simonetta Palazzi
Played by Irene Papas
Ivo's glamorous wife and member of the Roffe family with her own secrets.
Sir Alec Nichols
Played by Maurice Ronet
British cousin running the London division, ambitious and calculating.
Walther Gassner
Played by Romy Schneider
German cousin managing the pharmaceutical division with ruthless efficiency.
Charles Martin
Played by Omar Sharif
French cousin and family member involved in the company's operations.
Detective Max Hornung
Played by Gert Fröbe
Investigator looking into the suspicious circumstances surrounding Sam Roffe's death.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Elizabeth Roffe lives as an heiress to a pharmaceutical empire, attending social events and living a privileged life separate from the family business operations.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Sam Roffe, Elizabeth's father and head of the company, dies in a mysterious mountain climbing accident, forcing Elizabeth into a position of authority she never wanted.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Elizabeth decides to take control of Roffe and Sons and investigate her father's death herself, refusing to sell the company despite pressure from all family members., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Elizabeth discovers evidence that her father was murdered and that one of her trusted family members is responsible, raising the stakes from corporate intrigue to a direct threat on her life., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Elizabeth survives a murder attempt but realizes she can trust no one in her family. She faces the devastating truth that her bloodline itself is poisoned by greed and betrayal., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Elizabeth realizes she must use the killer's greed against them and sets a trap, combining her newfound business acumen with the integrity Rhys helped her maintain., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Bloodline'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 Bloodline against these established plot points, we can identify how Terence Young utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Bloodline within the crime genre.
Terence Young's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Terence Young films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Bloodline represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Terence Young filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Terence Young analyses, see Thunderball, Dr. No and From Russia with Love.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Elizabeth Roffe lives as an heiress to a pharmaceutical empire, attending social events and living a privileged life separate from the family business operations.
Theme
A family advisor warns about trusting family members, stating that blood ties can be both a blessing and a curse, especially when money and power are involved.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Roffe pharmaceutical dynasty, its international scope, the family members who run various divisions, and Elizabeth's detached relationship to the business her father built.
Disruption
Sam Roffe, Elizabeth's father and head of the company, dies in a mysterious mountain climbing accident, forcing Elizabeth into a position of authority she never wanted.
Resistance
Elizabeth resists taking control of the company while family members pressure her to sell or go public. She learns about corporate politics and suspects her father's death wasn't accidental.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elizabeth decides to take control of Roffe and Sons and investigate her father's death herself, refusing to sell the company despite pressure from all family members.
Mirror World
Elizabeth develops a relationship with Rhys Williams, a detective helping investigate the death, who represents integrity and truth in contrast to her duplicitous family members.
Premise
Elizabeth investigates her family members across international locations, uncovering secrets, lies, and financial improprieties while learning to navigate the corporate world and assert her authority.
Midpoint
Elizabeth discovers evidence that her father was murdered and that one of her trusted family members is responsible, raising the stakes from corporate intrigue to a direct threat on her life.
Opposition
The killer escalates attempts on Elizabeth's life while she narrows down suspects. Family members become more desperate as she refuses to relinquish control, and trust erodes completely.
Collapse
Elizabeth survives a murder attempt but realizes she can trust no one in her family. She faces the devastating truth that her bloodline itself is poisoned by greed and betrayal.
Crisis
Elizabeth confronts her isolation and vulnerability, processing the loss of family trust and determining whether to continue fighting or surrender the company to save herself.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Elizabeth realizes she must use the killer's greed against them and sets a trap, combining her newfound business acumen with the integrity Rhys helped her maintain.
Synthesis
Elizabeth executes her plan to expose the murderer, orchestrating a final confrontation that reveals the killer's identity and motive, bringing justice for her father.
Transformation
Elizabeth stands confidently as head of Roffe and Sons, transformed from a reluctant heiress into a capable leader who has purged corruption from her family legacy.