Come September
Wealthy industrialist Robert Talbot arrives early for his annual vacation at his luxurious Italian villa to find three problems lying in wait for him. Firstly, his long-time girlfriend Lisa Fellini has given up waiting for him to pop the question and has decided to marry another man. Secondly, the major domo of his villa, Maurice Clavell, has turned the estate into a posh hotel to make some easy money while the boss isn't around. And, finally, the current guests of the "hotel" are a group of young American girls trying to fend off a gang of oversexed boys, led by Tony, who are 'laying siege' at the outer walls of the villa. Talbot, to his own surprise, finds himself becoming an overprotective chaperone.
The film earned $14.2M at the global box office.
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%)
Come September (1961) exemplifies carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Robert Mulligan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 52 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Robert Talbot arrives at his luxurious Italian villa overlooking the Mediterranean, expecting his annual romantic September reunion with Lisa Fellini. His world is one of privilege, routine, and carefully controlled romance.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Robert discovers that Maurice has been operating his villa as a hotel during his absence, and it's currently full of American tourists. His private sanctuary has been invaded, and his romantic plans are disrupted.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Robert makes the active choice to pretend to be the hotel manager rather than expose the truth, committing himself to living a lie and engaging with these strangers. This launches him into a world where he can't control everything and must adapt., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: Robert and Lisa finally manage to have their romantic time together, and everything seems to be working out. He thinks he can have both worlds - maintain the hotel charade and keep his relationship with Lisa on his terms. But the stakes are about to rise., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lisa tells Robert she's done waiting for him and can't continue their September-only arrangement. She walks away from him, choosing her dignity over the scraps of attention he's been giving her. The relationship Robert thought he could control dies, and he faces losing her forever., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Robert has a realization: he needs to commit to Lisa year-round and open his life to real love, not just convenient romance. He understands that love requires vulnerability and full commitment, not control. He knows what he must do to win her back., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Come September's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Come September against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Mulligan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Come September within the comedy genre.
Robert Mulligan's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Robert Mulligan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.0, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Come September represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Robert Mulligan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Robert Mulligan analyses, see To Kill a Mockingbird, Kiss Me Goodbye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Robert Talbot arrives at his luxurious Italian villa overlooking the Mediterranean, expecting his annual romantic September reunion with Lisa Fellini. His world is one of privilege, routine, and carefully controlled romance.
Theme
Maurice (the majordomo) or Lisa makes a comment about "living life all year round, not just one month" - suggesting the theme about authentic love versus scheduled convenience and opening one's heart to real commitment.
Worldbuilding
We meet Robert, a successful American businessman who maintains a villa in Italy purely for his annual September vacation with Lisa. We learn about his arrangement with Lisa Fellini, his relationship with his majordomo Maurice, and the established pattern of their lives. Lisa works and waits all year for Robert's arrival.
Disruption
Robert discovers that Maurice has been operating his villa as a hotel during his absence, and it's currently full of American tourists. His private sanctuary has been invaded, and his romantic plans are disrupted.
Resistance
Robert debates what to do about the hotel guests. He can't simply throw them out without causing a scandal. He meets the young American tourists, including Sandy and Tony, and reluctantly agrees to maintain the charade while trying to find time alone with Lisa. He's torn between his anger at Maurice and the complications of the situation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Robert makes the active choice to pretend to be the hotel manager rather than expose the truth, committing himself to living a lie and engaging with these strangers. This launches him into a world where he can't control everything and must adapt.
Mirror World
The young couple Sandy and Tony represent authentic, spontaneous love - they mirror what Robert and Lisa's relationship could be if it weren't so scheduled and controlled. Their youthful romance shows genuine commitment versus Robert's compartmentalized arrangement.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the romantic comedy premise: Robert juggling his role as fake hotel manager, trying to sneak time with Lisa, dealing with the complications of the young guests and their romantic problems, and the escalating chaos of maintaining the deception. Comic misunderstandings and romantic near-misses abound.
Midpoint
False victory: Robert and Lisa finally manage to have their romantic time together, and everything seems to be working out. He thinks he can have both worlds - maintain the hotel charade and keep his relationship with Lisa on his terms. But the stakes are about to rise.
Opposition
The complications intensify: Lisa becomes increasingly frustrated with Robert's inability to commit to her beyond September. The young couple's problems force Robert to give relationship advice, making him confront his own emotional unavailability. Lisa's patience wears thin as she realizes she wants more than a part-time relationship. Jealousy, misunderstandings, and the pressure of maintaining lies build.
Collapse
Lisa tells Robert she's done waiting for him and can't continue their September-only arrangement. She walks away from him, choosing her dignity over the scraps of attention he's been giving her. The relationship Robert thought he could control dies, and he faces losing her forever.
Crisis
Robert sits alone, processing what he's lost. He reflects on how the young couple and the other guests have shown him what real love and commitment look like. His dark night of the soul where he realizes his controlled, compartmentalized life has cost him genuine connection.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Robert has a realization: he needs to commit to Lisa year-round and open his life to real love, not just convenient romance. He understands that love requires vulnerability and full commitment, not control. He knows what he must do to win her back.
Synthesis
Robert pursues Lisa and makes a grand romantic gesture proving his commitment. He confronts his fears of vulnerability and makes promises about their future together beyond September. He helps resolve the young couple's issues, showing he's learned the lessons about authentic love. All relationship threads are resolved.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening but transformed: Robert and Lisa together at the villa, but now with the promise of a real, year-round relationship. He's no longer the controlled businessman treating love as a vacation - he's a man who's opened his heart to genuine commitment and partnership.