How to Murder Your Wife
Stanley Ford leads an idyllic bachelor life. He is a nationally syndicated cartoonist whose Bash Brannigan series provides him with a luxury townhouse and a full-time valet, Charles. When he wakes up the morning after the night before - he had attended a friend's stag party - he finds that he is married to the very beautiful woman who popped out of the cake - and who doesn't speak a word of English. Despite his initial protestations, he comes to like married life and even changes his cartoon character from a super spy to a somewhat harried husband. When after several months he decides to kill off Bash's wife in the cartoon, his wife misinterprets his intentions and disappears. Which leads the police to charge him with murder.
The film earned $12.0M at the global box office.
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award1 win & 2 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%)
How to Murder Your Wife (1965) exemplifies carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Richard Quine's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 58 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 8.0, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Stanley Ford lives an ideal bachelor life in his Manhattan brownstone with perfect manservant Charles, creating his comic strip "Bash Brannigan" by living out adventures himself. He embodies the sophisticated, commitment-free existence he champions.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when At Harold's bachelor party, an Italian beauty named Virga jumps out of a giant cake. Stanley gets drunk and wakes up the next morning to discover he has married her during the blackout. His carefully controlled bachelor life is shattered by this impulsive, alcohol-fueled decision.. 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Stanley decides he cannot escape the marriage and must adapt. He chooses to incorporate his new wife into his comic strip, transforming Bash Brannigan from a bachelor adventurer into a married man. This active decision commits him to exploring life as a married man, both in reality and in his art., moving from reaction to action.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False defeat: Stanley creates a comic strip sequence where Bash Brannigan murders his wife. The same day, Virga mysteriously disappears from Stanley's life. What seems like wish fulfillment becomes a nightmare as Stanley realizes he has no alibi and the comic strip provides a detailed murder plot. Stakes escalate from domestic comedy to potential murder accusation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 89 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, During the trial, the prosecution presents overwhelming circumstantial evidence. Stanley faces conviction for murder and potential execution. His bachelor life, his reputation, his freedom, and potentially his life are all about to die. This is his darkest moment - destroyed by his own artistic expression of frustration., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Stanley has a breakthrough realization and takes the stand to deliver an impassioned closing argument. He argues that the comic strip represents every married man's fantasy, not intent. He synthesizes his artistic freedom with the reality of marriage, defending not just himself but the right to imagine without being condemned for thoughts. The jury of married men understands., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
How to Murder Your Wife'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 How to Murder Your Wife against these established plot points, we can identify how Richard Quine utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish How to Murder Your Wife within the comedy genre.
Richard Quine's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Richard Quine films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. How to Murder Your Wife represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Richard Quine filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Richard Quine analyses, see The World of Suzie Wong, The Prisoner of Zenda.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Stanley Ford lives an ideal bachelor life in his Manhattan brownstone with perfect manservant Charles, creating his comic strip "Bash Brannigan" by living out adventures himself. He embodies the sophisticated, commitment-free existence he champions.
Theme
Stanley's lawyer Harold warns him during a conversation about marriage: "A man should be careful about what he wishes for." The film's theme explores masculine freedom versus marital obligation, and the consequences of making permanent decisions in temporary states of mind.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Stanley's perfect bachelor routine: his brownstone headquarters, his method of creating comics through real-life stunts, his relationship with Charles, his friendship with Harold, and his public persona as an advocate for bachelorhood. The world of 1960s gender roles and expectations is firmly established.
Disruption
At Harold's bachelor party, an Italian beauty named Virga jumps out of a giant cake. Stanley gets drunk and wakes up the next morning to discover he has married her during the blackout. His carefully controlled bachelor life is shattered by this impulsive, alcohol-fueled decision.
Resistance
Stanley resists accepting his new reality. He tries to figure out how to deal with Virga, who speaks no English. Charles becomes an unlikely guide, helping Stanley navigate married life while Stanley debates whether to seek an annulment. Virga begins transforming his home, invading his space and disrupting his routine.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Stanley decides he cannot escape the marriage and must adapt. He chooses to incorporate his new wife into his comic strip, transforming Bash Brannigan from a bachelor adventurer into a married man. This active decision commits him to exploring life as a married man, both in reality and in his art.
Mirror World
Stanley observes Harold's marriage to Edna, which serves as the thematic mirror. Harold is henpecked, controlled, and miserable - representing everything Stanley fears about marriage. This relationship embodies the film's exploration of masculine autonomy versus domestic obligation.
Premise
The "fun and games" of married life as comedy. Stanley experiences the irritations and losses of marriage: Virga redecorates his home, invades his privacy, spends his money, and disrupts his creative process. He channels his frustration into his comic strip, where Bash Brannigan plots to murder his fictional wife. The parallel between comic and reality builds.
Midpoint
False defeat: Stanley creates a comic strip sequence where Bash Brannigan murders his wife. The same day, Virga mysteriously disappears from Stanley's life. What seems like wish fulfillment becomes a nightmare as Stanley realizes he has no alibi and the comic strip provides a detailed murder plot. Stakes escalate from domestic comedy to potential murder accusation.
Opposition
The authorities investigate Virga's disappearance. Stanley's comic strip is discovered, providing apparent premeditation and method. Evidence mounts against him. His friends doubt him. The press sensationalizes the case. Stanley is arrested and put on trial for murder despite no body being found. The system closes in as his own art condemns him.
Collapse
During the trial, the prosecution presents overwhelming circumstantial evidence. Stanley faces conviction for murder and potential execution. His bachelor life, his reputation, his freedom, and potentially his life are all about to die. This is his darkest moment - destroyed by his own artistic expression of frustration.
Crisis
Stanley sits in despair as the trial proceeds. He grapples with the absurdity of his situation - how his comic fantasy became his prosecution's reality. His lawyer Harold mounts a defense, but Stanley must confront what he truly wanted: was it freedom from Virga, or freedom from the responsibility of choice?
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Stanley has a breakthrough realization and takes the stand to deliver an impassioned closing argument. He argues that the comic strip represents every married man's fantasy, not intent. He synthesizes his artistic freedom with the reality of marriage, defending not just himself but the right to imagine without being condemned for thoughts. The jury of married men understands.
Synthesis
The jury acquits Stanley. The men riot in celebration of their vicarious victory. Virga returns, revealing she had merely gone to visit her family. Stanley must now confront the reality: he is still married, but has gained perspective. He reconciles with Virga, having learned that marriage doesn't require the death of self, only the integration of partnership.
Transformation
Stanley returns to creating his comic strip, but now with a mature perspective. Instead of bachelor fantasy or murder plots, he integrates his married reality into his art with acceptance rather than resentment. The final image shows him at peace with his choice, transformed from a man who feared commitment to one who has found balance.