Breakout
Jay Wagner is framed by the mob and sent to prison in Mexico. His wife, Ann tries to get him out. She then turns to bush pilot Nick Colton for help. And Colton is all to eager to do it. But the men who framed Jay will do what they have to make sure he doesn't escape.
Despite its small-scale budget of $1.0M, Breakout became a runaway success, earning $16.0M worldwide—a remarkable 1500% return. The film's fresh perspective connected with viewers, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Breakout (1975) exhibits carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Tom Gries's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 36 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Nick Colton
Ann Wagner
Jay Wagner
Harris Wagner
Hawk Hawkins
Captain Valdez
Main Cast & Characters
Nick Colton
Played by Charles Bronson
A helicopter pilot hired to break Jay Wagner out of a Mexican prison
Ann Wagner
Played by Jill Ireland
Jay Wagner's determined wife who hires Colton to rescue her husband
Jay Wagner
Played by Robert Duvall
An American businessman framed and imprisoned in Mexico
Harris Wagner
Played by John Huston
Jay's wealthy grandfather who funds the rescue operation
Hawk Hawkins
Played by Randy Quaid
Colton's pilot partner and best friend who assists in the operation
Captain Valdez
Played by Alejandro Rey
Corrupt Mexican police captain who profits from Wagner's imprisonment
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nick Colton flies his helicopter in Texas, living as a freelance pilot doing odd jobs for money. He's a free-spirited, independent operator.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Ann Wagnor approaches Nick with a desperate plea to break her husband out of prison, offering $250,000. This pulls him into a dangerous world.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Nick commits to the breakout plan and crosses into Mexico, actively choosing to enter the dangerous world of prison break orchestration., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat A breakout attempt fails spectacularly and Nick realizes the prison officials are actively working against him. The stakes escalate—this isn't just hard, someone powerful wants Jay to stay imprisoned., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A major setback occurs—either Hawk is captured/killed or Nick's resources are destroyed. The mission appears impossible and Nick faces his darkest moment., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Nick discovers the truth about who framed Jay or finds a new approach combining his flying skills with his understanding of loyalty. He commits to one final, daring plan., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Breakout'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 Breakout against these established plot points, we can identify how Tom Gries utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Breakout within the action genre.
Tom Gries's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Tom Gries films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Breakout exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tom Gries filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Tom Gries analyses, see The Greatest.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nick Colton flies his helicopter in Texas, living as a freelance pilot doing odd jobs for money. He's a free-spirited, independent operator.
Theme
A character mentions that "everybody has a price" when discussing the possibility of bribing officials, establishing the theme of corruption versus loyalty.
Worldbuilding
Setup establishes Nick's world as a pilot, introduces Ann Wagnor whose husband Jay has been framed and imprisoned in Mexico, and shows the corrupt Mexican prison system.
Disruption
Ann Wagnor approaches Nick with a desperate plea to break her husband out of prison, offering $250,000. This pulls him into a dangerous world.
Resistance
Nick debates whether to take the job, researches the prison, makes initial contact with corrupt officials, and weighs the risks versus the money.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nick commits to the breakout plan and crosses into Mexico, actively choosing to enter the dangerous world of prison break orchestration.
Mirror World
Nick meets with Hawk Hawkins, his friend and ally who represents loyalty in a world of corruption. Their partnership embodies the thematic counterpoint.
Premise
The fun of the heist film: Nick explores various breakout schemes, scouts the prison, attempts bribes, tries different escape methods, and encounters colorful obstacles.
Midpoint
A breakout attempt fails spectacularly and Nick realizes the prison officials are actively working against him. The stakes escalate—this isn't just hard, someone powerful wants Jay to stay imprisoned.
Opposition
The antagonists close in: corrupt officials attempt to kill Nick, Jay faces torture in prison, and Ann is threatened. The conspiracy reveals itself as deeper and more dangerous.
Collapse
A major setback occurs—either Hawk is captured/killed or Nick's resources are destroyed. The mission appears impossible and Nick faces his darkest moment.
Crisis
Nick processes the loss and considers abandoning the mission. He confronts what matters more: the money or doing what's right.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nick discovers the truth about who framed Jay or finds a new approach combining his flying skills with his understanding of loyalty. He commits to one final, daring plan.
Synthesis
The finale breakout: Nick executes an aerial rescue, confronts the corrupt officials, saves Jay, and exposes the conspiracy. Action-packed resolution.
Transformation
Nick flies away, having proven that loyalty and justice matter more than money. He's still a free spirit, but now with purpose beyond profit.