On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Daisy Gamble, an unusual woman who hears phones before they ring, and does wonders with her flowers, wants to quit smoking to please her fiancé, Warren. She goes to a doctor of hypnosis to do it. But once she's under, her doctor finds out that she can regress into past lives and different personalities, and he finds himself falling in love with one of them.
Working with a tight budget of $8.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $14.0M in global revenue (+75% profit margin).
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%)
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) demonstrates deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Vincente Minnelli's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 9 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Daisy Gamble sits in Dr. Marc Chabot's university office waiting to quit smoking through hypnosis, establishing her as a quirky but troubled young woman seeking help for her anxieties and habits.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when During hypnosis to quit smoking, Daisy spontaneously regresses to a past life as Melinda Tentrees, an elegant 18th-century British woman, stunning Dr. Chabot with the vividness and detail of the regression.. 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Daisy agrees to continue the regression therapy sessions despite her reservations, actively choosing to explore her past life with Dr. Chabot, moving into a world where she shares her deepest hidden self., moving from reaction to action.
At 65 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Daisy realizes that Dr. Chabot is in love with Melinda, her past-life persona, not with her present self. This false defeat reveals that the therapy meant to help her has created a deeper problem of being unseen., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 97 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Daisy breaks down emotionally, confronting the painful truth that Dr. Chabot loves a fantasy from the past rather than the real woman before him. She recognizes she has lost herself trying to be worthy of his attention., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 104 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Daisy decides to undergo one final hypnosis session where she will erase Dr. Chabot from her memory, choosing self-preservation and dignity over unrequited love. She takes control of the therapy that was controlling her., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever'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 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever against these established plot points, we can identify how Vincente Minnelli utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish On a Clear Day You Can See Forever within the comedy genre.
Vincente Minnelli's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Vincente Minnelli films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. On a Clear Day You Can See Forever takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Vincente Minnelli filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Vincente Minnelli analyses, see Gigi, An American in Paris and Meet Me in St. Louis.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Daisy Gamble sits in Dr. Marc Chabot's university office waiting to quit smoking through hypnosis, establishing her as a quirky but troubled young woman seeking help for her anxieties and habits.
Theme
Dr. Chabot's colleague suggests that people are more than what they appear on the surface, hinting at hidden depths and past lives - the central theme of discovering one's complete self beyond present limitations.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Daisy's psychic abilities (making flowers grow, predicting events), her engagement to Warren, and Dr. Chabot's academic world of hypnosis research. Establishes the contrast between Daisy's mundane present and her extraordinary abilities.
Disruption
During hypnosis to quit smoking, Daisy spontaneously regresses to a past life as Melinda Tentrees, an elegant 18th-century British woman, stunning Dr. Chabot with the vividness and detail of the regression.
Resistance
Dr. Chabot becomes obsessed with exploring Daisy's past life, conducting multiple regression sessions. Daisy is hesitant and confused about the implications, while Chabot sees academic glory and becomes increasingly fascinated with the glamorous Melinda.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Daisy agrees to continue the regression therapy sessions despite her reservations, actively choosing to explore her past life with Dr. Chabot, moving into a world where she shares her deepest hidden self.
Mirror World
As Melinda, Daisy reveals a sophisticated, confident woman from 18th-century England involved in romance and society - the complete opposite of present-day Daisy. This alter ego represents who Daisy could become if she believed in herself.
Premise
The fun exploration of Melinda's past life through multiple hypnosis sessions - elaborate period flashbacks of romance, scandal, and 18th-century society. Dr. Chabot falls in love with Melinda while ignoring the real Daisy in front of him.
Midpoint
Daisy realizes that Dr. Chabot is in love with Melinda, her past-life persona, not with her present self. This false defeat reveals that the therapy meant to help her has created a deeper problem of being unseen.
Opposition
Daisy struggles with the pain of being overlooked while her past-life self is adored. Dr. Chabot becomes more obsessed with accessing Melinda, pressuring Daisy for more sessions. Daisy's fiancé Warren and present life become increasingly unstable.
Collapse
Daisy breaks down emotionally, confronting the painful truth that Dr. Chabot loves a fantasy from the past rather than the real woman before him. She recognizes she has lost herself trying to be worthy of his attention.
Crisis
Daisy processes her heartbreak and the realization that she must value her present self. She sits in darkness with the knowledge that being extraordinary (Melinda) is not enough if her current identity is dismissed.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Daisy decides to undergo one final hypnosis session where she will erase Dr. Chabot from her memory, choosing self-preservation and dignity over unrequited love. She takes control of the therapy that was controlling her.
Synthesis
In the final session, Daisy has Dr. Chabot hypnotically erased from her memory. Dr. Chabot realizes too late that he loves the real Daisy, not just Melinda. He must now win her over as a stranger, having lost his privileged access to her inner world.
Transformation
Daisy walks away confident and self-possessed, having integrated the best of both Melinda and herself. She is now whole, valued for who she is in the present, with the power to choose who deserves access to all her extraordinary dimensions.