Making Love
A successful young L.A. doctor and his equally successful television-producer wife find their happily-ever-after life torn assunder when he suddenly confronts his long-repressed attraction for other men. Zach and Claire live a comfortable life secure in their love for one another when Bart, a swinging L.A. novelist, walks into Zach's office and awakens unfamiliar feelings in him. In a move which leaves him wracked with guilt, Zach cancels dinner with his wife in order to go out with Bart. He is inexplicably drawn to this man who seems intent on keeping him at arms distance. Why can't Bart allow their relationship to grow? he wonders. Exasperated, he asks Bart, "Do you snore? Does anybody ever get a chance to find out?" As Zach's absences become more and more frequent, Claire's concern manifests itself in the suspicion that he is having an affair with another woman. Jilted by Bart and feeling alone for the first time in his married life, Zach resolves to tell Claire the truth about himself. Predictably, Claire is shocked that she could have known so little about the man she has loved for so many years and accuses him of deceiving her from the very start.
The film struggled financially against its modest budget of $14.0M, earning $11.9M globally (-15% loss).
1 nomination
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%)
Making Love (1982) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Arthur Hiller's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 53 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Zack and Claire appear to have the perfect marriage - successful careers, beautiful home, discussing starting a family. The image of an ideal Los Angeles couple.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Zack meets Bart, a young gay writer, at a hospital event. The attraction is immediate and undeniable, disrupting Zack's carefully constructed heterosexual life.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Zack actively chooses to pursue Bart, crossing the line from curiosity to action. He initiates contact and enters into a sexual relationship, leaving his "straight" world behind., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Claire discovers the affair or Zack confesses. The secret is out - false victory of living a double life collapses. Stakes raise dramatically as the marriage faces its crisis., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The marriage dies. Bart leaves, refusing to be Zack's security blanket. Zack loses both relationships - his safe marriage and his passionate affair. Complete loss and isolation., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Zack accepts his identity and chooses to live authentically, understanding that honesty about who he is matters more than the comfortable lie. Synthesis of truth and courage., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Making Love'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 Making Love against these established plot points, we can identify how Arthur Hiller utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Making Love within the drama genre.
Arthur Hiller's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Arthur Hiller films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Making Love represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Arthur Hiller filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Arthur Hiller analyses, see The Babe, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Silver Streak.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Zack and Claire appear to have the perfect marriage - successful careers, beautiful home, discussing starting a family. The image of an ideal Los Angeles couple.
Theme
Claire or a colleague discusses the importance of being honest about who you really are, foreshadowing Zack's internal struggle with identity and authenticity.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Zack's work as a doctor, Claire's career in television, their social circle, attempts to conceive, and the subtle signs of Zack's distraction and unexplored desires.
Disruption
Zack meets Bart, a young gay writer, at a hospital event. The attraction is immediate and undeniable, disrupting Zack's carefully constructed heterosexual life.
Resistance
Zack wrestles with his feelings, debates internally, experiences growing tension at home. He makes excuses to see Bart again while maintaining his marriage facade.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Zack actively chooses to pursue Bart, crossing the line from curiosity to action. He initiates contact and enters into a sexual relationship, leaving his "straight" world behind.
Mirror World
Bart represents the possibility of living authentically. Through their relationship, Zack experiences genuine emotional and physical connection, showing him what he's been missing.
Premise
Zack explores his sexuality and identity through the affair with Bart while maintaining his marriage. The double life becomes increasingly difficult as his feelings deepen.
Midpoint
Claire discovers the affair or Zack confesses. The secret is out - false victory of living a double life collapses. Stakes raise dramatically as the marriage faces its crisis.
Opposition
Claire's pain and anger intensify. Zack faces opposition from all sides - Claire's heartbreak, societal judgment, Bart's resistance to commitment, and his own guilt and confusion.
Collapse
The marriage dies. Bart leaves, refusing to be Zack's security blanket. Zack loses both relationships - his safe marriage and his passionate affair. Complete loss and isolation.
Crisis
Zack processes the devastation alone. Dark night reflecting on the damage caused, the impossibility of going back, and facing an uncertain future as an openly gay man.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Zack accepts his identity and chooses to live authentically, understanding that honesty about who he is matters more than the comfortable lie. Synthesis of truth and courage.
Synthesis
Time passes. Zack builds a new life as an openly gay man. Claire moves forward, eventually finding new love. Both characters find resolution through acceptance and honesty.
Transformation
Final image shows Zack living openly and authentically, contrasting with the false perfection of the opening. He has found peace in truth, transformed from denial to self-acceptance.