Capricorn One
In order to protect the reputation of the American space program, a team of NASA administrators turn the first Mars mission into a phony Mars landing. Under threat of harm to their families the astronauts play their part in the deception on a staged set in a deserted military base. But once the real ship returns to Earth and burns up on re-entry, the astronauts become liabilities. Now, with the help of a crusading reporter, they must battle a sinister conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden.
Despite its small-scale budget of $5.0M, Capricorn One became a commercial success, earning $12.0M worldwide—a 140% 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%)
Capricorn One (1977) exemplifies carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Peter Hyams'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
Charles Brubaker
Robert Caulfield
Dr. James Kelloway
Peter Willis
John Walker
Judy Drinkwater
Albain
Main Cast & Characters
Charles Brubaker
Played by James Brolin
Commander of the Mars mission who is forced to fake the landing and struggles with the moral implications of the conspiracy.
Robert Caulfield
Played by Elliott Gould
Investigative journalist who stumbles upon inconsistencies in the Mars mission and relentlessly pursues the truth despite threats.
Dr. James Kelloway
Played by Hal Holbrook
NASA official and mission director who orchestrates the conspiracy to fake the Mars landing to protect the space program.
Peter Willis
Played by Sam Waterston
One of the astronauts forced to participate in the hoax, a team player who follows Brubaker's lead.
John Walker
Played by O.J. Simpson
The third astronaut in the conspiracy, more volatile and prone to panic under pressure.
Judy Drinkwater
Played by Karen Black
Caulfield's colleague and assistant who helps him investigate the conspiracy despite the risks.
Albain
Played by Telly Savalas
The shadowy government operative who leads the effort to silence the astronauts and cover up the conspiracy.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The three astronauts - Brubaker, Willis, and Walker - prepare for the historic first manned mission to Mars, confident and celebrated as American heroes about to make history.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Minutes before launch, the astronauts are forcibly removed from the capsule and taken to an abandoned military base, where they learn the life support system failed and the mission will be faked.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Brubaker and his crew reluctantly agree to participate in the hoax, performing the fake Mars landing from a soundstage while the world watches what they believe is real footage., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The empty Capricorn One capsule burns up on reentry, and NASA plans to fake the astronauts' deaths to permanently cover up the hoax. The stakes become life and death., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 91 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Walker and Willis are killed by the pursuing helicopters. Brubaker is alone in the desert, near death from dehydration, seemingly defeated with no hope of escape or exposing the truth., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 97 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Crop duster pilot Albain rescues the near-dead Brubaker from the desert. Meanwhile, Caulfield pieces together the full conspiracy and realizes Brubaker must still be alive., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Capricorn One'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 Capricorn One against these established plot points, we can identify how Peter Hyams utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Capricorn One within the drama genre.
Peter Hyams's Structural Approach
Among the 14 Peter Hyams films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Capricorn One represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Peter Hyams filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Peter Hyams analyses, see The Presidio, Timecop and Running Scared.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The three astronauts - Brubaker, Willis, and Walker - prepare for the historic first manned mission to Mars, confident and celebrated as American heroes about to make history.
Theme
A NASA official discusses how the public's faith in the space program depends on maintaining the illusion of success, foreshadowing the central conflict between truth and manufactured reality.
Worldbuilding
Establish the world of NASA, the media circus around the Mars mission, reporter Robert Caulfield's investigative nature, and the massive public investment in the space program's success.
Disruption
Minutes before launch, the astronauts are forcibly removed from the capsule and taken to an abandoned military base, where they learn the life support system failed and the mission will be faked.
Resistance
Dr. Kelloway explains the conspiracy: they must fake the Mars landing on a soundstage or NASA loses funding forever. The astronauts debate and resist, but their families are implicitly threatened.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Brubaker and his crew reluctantly agree to participate in the hoax, performing the fake Mars landing from a soundstage while the world watches what they believe is real footage.
Mirror World
Reporter Caulfield notices anomalies in the mission coverage and begins investigating, representing the thematic counterpoint of truth-seeking journalism against institutional deception.
Premise
The dual narrative: astronauts perform the elaborate hoax while dealing with their guilt and captivity, while Caulfield investigates irregularities and faces mounting obstacles and danger.
Midpoint
The empty Capricorn One capsule burns up on reentry, and NASA plans to fake the astronauts' deaths to permanently cover up the hoax. The stakes become life and death.
Opposition
The astronauts escape and are hunted across the desert by helicopters. Caulfield's investigation intensifies as people around him are murdered. Both storylines face mounting, deadly opposition.
Collapse
Walker and Willis are killed by the pursuing helicopters. Brubaker is alone in the desert, near death from dehydration, seemingly defeated with no hope of escape or exposing the truth.
Crisis
Brubaker struggles through the desert on the verge of death. Caulfield faces his own dark moment, realizing the conspiracy's reach and deadliness, questioning if he can survive to expose it.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Crop duster pilot Albain rescues the near-dead Brubaker from the desert. Meanwhile, Caulfield pieces together the full conspiracy and realizes Brubaker must still be alive.
Synthesis
Race against time as Caulfield rushes to the astronauts' memorial service where Brubaker will appear. Aerial chase as conspirators pursue Albain's plane. Convergence of truth and exposure.
Transformation
Brubaker crashes through the door of his own memorial service, alive and undeniable proof of the conspiracy. The truth is revealed before the cameras and public, vindicating the truth-seekers.