Clear and Present Danger
Agent Jack Ryan becomes acting Deputy Director of Intelligence for the CIA when Admiral Greer is diagnosed with cancer. When an American businessman, and friend of the president, is murdered on his yacht, Ryan starts discovering links between the man and drug dealers. As former CIA agent John Clark is sent to Colombia to kill drug cartel kingpins in retaliation, Ryan must fight through multiple cover-ups to figure out what happened and who's responsible.
Despite a mid-range budget of $62.0M, Clear and Present Danger became a commercial success, earning $215.9M worldwide—a 248% 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%)
Clear and Present Danger (1994) exemplifies strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Phillip Noyce's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 21 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jack Ryan is a CIA analyst, competent but confined to desk work. He operates within established protocols, loyal to the system and believing in doing things by the book.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 18 minutes when The President secretly authorizes illegal covert military operations in Colombia in response to his friend's murder. Ryan is kept in the dark about the illegal nature of the operations, but senses something is wrong.. 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 35 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Ryan accepts the position of Acting Deputy Director of Intelligence, stepping into Greer's role. He actively chooses to enter the world of political power and covert operations, believing he can maintain his integrity., moving from reaction to action.
At 71 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The covert team's position is compromised and they are ambushed in a devastating attack. The cartel has been tipped off, revealing that someone in the U.S. Government has betrayed the operation. The stakes escalate dramatically and false victory turns to real danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 106 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Admiral Greer dies in the hospital. Ryan loses his mentor and moral compass, the one person who reinforced his ethical principles. The whiff of death is literal, and Ryan must now stand alone against institutional corruption., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 114 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Ryan synthesizes Greer's lesson about the oath to the Constitution with his operational knowledge. He decides to go to Colombia himself to rescue the abandoned soldiers, choosing moral action over political safety. He becomes a man of action guided by principle., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Clear and Present Danger'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 Clear and Present Danger against these established plot points, we can identify how Phillip Noyce utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Clear and Present Danger within the action genre.
Phillip Noyce's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Phillip Noyce films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Clear and Present Danger represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Phillip Noyce filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Phillip Noyce analyses, see Salt, Sliver and The Bone Collector.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jack Ryan is a CIA analyst, competent but confined to desk work. He operates within established protocols, loyal to the system and believing in doing things by the book.
Theme
Admiral Greer tells Ryan, "You took an oath, if you recall, when you first came to work for me. And I don't mean to the National Security Advisor, and I don't mean to the President. You gave your word to his constitution." The theme: institutional loyalty versus moral integrity.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the CIA world, Jack Ryan's position as analyst, Admiral Greer as his mentor, and the political landscape. A businessman and close friend of the President is murdered with his family on a yacht by Colombian drug cartels.
Disruption
The President secretly authorizes illegal covert military operations in Colombia in response to his friend's murder. Ryan is kept in the dark about the illegal nature of the operations, but senses something is wrong.
Resistance
Ryan investigates the yacht murders and discovers money laundering connections. Admiral Greer becomes ill. Ryan is offered Greer's position as Deputy Director. He debates whether to accept, uncertain about the political machinations around him.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ryan accepts the position of Acting Deputy Director of Intelligence, stepping into Greer's role. He actively chooses to enter the world of political power and covert operations, believing he can maintain his integrity.
Mirror World
John Clark and the covert special forces team in Colombia represent the mirror world. They are soldiers following orders without full knowledge, operating in moral ambiguity, reflecting what Ryan could become if he abandons his principles.
Premise
Ryan navigates his new position, testifying before Congress, conducting intelligence operations, and gradually uncovering the extent of the illegal covert war. He works to expose the truth while the special forces team executes missions in Colombia.
Midpoint
The covert team's position is compromised and they are ambushed in a devastating attack. The cartel has been tipped off, revealing that someone in the U.S. government has betrayed the operation. The stakes escalate dramatically and false victory turns to real danger.
Opposition
Ryan discovers the full scope of the illegal operation and the betrayal. National Security Advisor Ritter and the President work to cover up their involvement and abandon the soldiers in Colombia. Ryan faces opposition from his own government as he tries to save the team and expose the truth.
Collapse
Admiral Greer dies in the hospital. Ryan loses his mentor and moral compass, the one person who reinforced his ethical principles. The whiff of death is literal, and Ryan must now stand alone against institutional corruption.
Crisis
Ryan grieves Greer's death and faces the darkness of complete abandonment by his government. The soldiers are left to die, the truth is being buried, and Ryan must decide whether to play politics or honor his oath to the Constitution.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ryan synthesizes Greer's lesson about the oath to the Constitution with his operational knowledge. He decides to go to Colombia himself to rescue the abandoned soldiers, choosing moral action over political safety. He becomes a man of action guided by principle.
Synthesis
Ryan travels to Colombia, coordinates with Clark, and successfully extracts the surviving special forces soldiers. He returns to confront Ritter and the President, threatening to expose the entire illegal operation unless they take responsibility. He combines his analytical skills with newfound courage.
Transformation
Ryan testifies before Congress with moral authority, having kept his oath to the Constitution. He has transformed from a bureaucratic analyst into a principled leader willing to stand against the President himself. The system is preserved through his integrity.