Body of Evidence
A lawyer defends a woman accused of killing her older lover by having sex with him.
Working with a moderate budget of $30.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $38.0M in global revenue (+27% profit margin).
1 win & 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%)
Body of Evidence (1993) reveals meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Uli Edel's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Rebecca Carlson
Frank Dulaney
Robert Garrett
Sharon Dulaney
Dr. Alan Paley
Joanne Braslow
Main Cast & Characters
Rebecca Carlson
Played by Madonna
A seductive gallery owner accused of murdering her wealthy elderly lover through dangerous sexual practices.
Frank Dulaney
Played by Willem Dafoe
A married defense attorney who becomes dangerously obsessed with his client Rebecca while defending her in a murder trial.
Robert Garrett
Played by Joe Mantegna
The aggressive district attorney prosecuting Rebecca for murder, determined to prove she killed for inheritance money.
Sharon Dulaney
Played by Julianne Moore
Frank's wife and secretary, a grounded professional who becomes increasingly concerned about her husband's behavior.
Dr. Alan Paley
Played by Jürgen Prochnow
A psychiatrist who provides expert testimony about sexual behavior and becomes entangled in the case.
Joanne Braslow
Played by Anne Archer
The medical examiner who testifies about the victim's cause of death and physical evidence.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Opening image: Andrew Marsh dies during intense sexual activity with Rebecca Carlson, establishing the film's central mystery and Rebecca's dangerous sexuality.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Rebecca Carlson directly approaches Frank Dulaney to be her defense attorney, bringing the dangerous case and the seductive defendant into his orderly professional life.. 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 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Frank officially agrees to defend Rebecca and commits to the case despite warnings, crossing into a morally dangerous world where professional boundaries will blur with personal desire., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False defeat: The prosecution presents damaging evidence about Rebecca's pattern of relationships with wealthy men and her knowledge of cocaine's effects on the heart. Frank realizes he may be defending a guilty woman while being manipulated, raising stakes personally and professionally., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Frank's secretary Joanne is murdered after discovering crucial evidence, representing the "whiff of death" - the consequences of Frank's choices have turned deadly and an innocent person dies because of his involvement with Rebecca., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Frank discovers the truth about Rebecca's guilt and makes the decision to use his legal skills not to free her but to ensure justice is served, synthesizing his professional integrity with his moral responsibility., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Body of Evidence's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Body of Evidence against these established plot points, we can identify how Uli Edel utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Body of Evidence within the drama genre.
Uli Edel's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Uli Edel films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Body of Evidence takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Uli Edel filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Uli Edel analyses, see The Baader Meinhof Complex, The Little Vampire.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Opening image: Andrew Marsh dies during intense sexual activity with Rebecca Carlson, establishing the film's central mystery and Rebecca's dangerous sexuality.
Theme
The prosecution states their theory: "She used sex as a weapon" - establishing the film's central question about whether desire can be criminal and where responsibility lies in consensual relationships.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the legal world: Frank Dulaney is a successful defense attorney with a stable marriage, the prosecution builds their case that Rebecca deliberately killed her wealthy older lover for inheritance, and we learn about the victim's heart condition and changed will.
Disruption
Rebecca Carlson directly approaches Frank Dulaney to be her defense attorney, bringing the dangerous case and the seductive defendant into his orderly professional life.
Resistance
Frank debates taking the case, investigating Rebecca's background and the evidence against her. He's warned by colleagues and his wife about Rebecca's reputation and the danger of the case, but is drawn to the challenge and to Rebecca herself.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Frank officially agrees to defend Rebecca and commits to the case despite warnings, crossing into a morally dangerous world where professional boundaries will blur with personal desire.
Mirror World
Frank and Rebecca begin their sexual affair, creating the relationship subplot that embodies the film's theme about the dangerous intersection of desire, power, and responsibility.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - the erotic thriller delivers courtroom drama intertwined with increasingly risky sexual encounters between Frank and Rebecca, while Frank builds the defense case and becomes more entangled in Rebecca's dangerous world.
Midpoint
False defeat: The prosecution presents damaging evidence about Rebecca's pattern of relationships with wealthy men and her knowledge of cocaine's effects on the heart. Frank realizes he may be defending a guilty woman while being manipulated, raising stakes personally and professionally.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies as Frank's marriage crumbles, his professional reputation is threatened, and evidence mounts against Rebecca. The prosecution closes in while Frank's obsession deepens, and he must confront whether he's been seduced into defending a murderer.
Collapse
Frank's secretary Joanne is murdered after discovering crucial evidence, representing the "whiff of death" - the consequences of Frank's choices have turned deadly and an innocent person dies because of his involvement with Rebecca.
Crisis
Frank processes the tragedy and realizes the full extent of the danger. He confronts the darkness of his choices and must decide whether to continue defending Rebecca or expose the truth, even if it destroys him.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Frank discovers the truth about Rebecca's guilt and makes the decision to use his legal skills not to free her but to ensure justice is served, synthesizing his professional integrity with his moral responsibility.
Synthesis
The trial concludes with final arguments and verdict. Frank executes his plan to reveal the truth while protecting himself legally. Rebecca's fate is determined and Frank must face the consequences of his actions.
Transformation
Final image shows Frank having survived but transformed - he has lost his marriage and innocence but retained his integrity, understanding now the price of letting desire override judgment.