Operation Condor
Hired by a Spanish baron, Hong Kong treasure hunter Jackie, a.k.a. "Asian Hawk" and his entourage seek WWII Nazi gold buried in the Sahara Desert.
Working with a respectable budget of $15.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $24.1M in global revenue (+61% 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%)
Operation Condor (1991) exemplifies carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Jackie Chan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jackie / Asian Hawk
Ada
Elsa
Momoko
Adolf
Duke
Main Cast & Characters
Jackie / Asian Hawk
Played by Jackie Chan
A daring secret agent codenamed Condor who embarks on a dangerous mission to find Nazi gold hidden in the Sahara Desert. Resourceful, athletic, and quick-witted with a talent for improvised combat.
Ada
Played by Carol Cheng
A feisty and headstrong woman who becomes Jackie's reluctant partner after her grandfather's connection to the Nazi gold is revealed. Initially distrustful but proves capable under pressure.
Elsa
Played by Eva Cobo
A beautiful and seemingly innocent hitchhiker who joins the treasure hunt. Her true motivations remain ambiguous throughout much of the adventure.
Momoko
Played by Shoko Ikeda
A cheerful and somewhat naive Japanese tourist who gets swept up in the adventure. Provides comic relief while occasionally contributing to the mission.
Adolf
Played by Aldo Sambrell
The ruthless leader of a group of mercenaries hunting for the Nazi gold. A calculating villain who will stop at nothing to claim the treasure for himself.
Duke
Played by Ken Goodman
Adolf's menacing right-hand man and enforcer. A physically imposing threat who serves as a formidable combat opponent for Jackie.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jackie (codename "Condor") finishes a treasure hunt mission in Madrid, demonstrating his skills as a treasure-hunting agent. He's confident, capable, and operating in his established world of adventure.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Jackie is given a high-stakes mission to find 240 tons of Nazi gold in the Sahara before arms dealers do. He has only a key and must work with the granddaughter of a Nazi officer who has critical information.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Jackie actively chooses to go into the Sahara Desert with Ada and Elsa despite the dangers, committing fully to the treasure hunt. This is his irreversible decision to enter the adventure world and trust potential allies., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat They find the hidden Nazi base and discover the vast treasure - a false victory. They think they've succeeded, but the arms dealers led by Adolf arrive, revealing the true danger. The stakes escalate as they're now trapped with the treasure., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jackie and the women are separated and cornered in the wind tunnel facility with no apparent escape. They face seemingly certain death as the villains prepare to eliminate them. The treasure is lost and survival looks impossible., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jackie realizes that by trusting and working together with Ada and Elsa (applying the Mirror World lesson), they can turn their knowledge of the base against the villains. He devises a plan using teamwork instead of solo heroics., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Operation Condor's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Operation Condor against these established plot points, we can identify how Jackie Chan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Operation Condor within the action genre.
Jackie Chan's Structural Approach
Among the 9 Jackie Chan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Operation Condor represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jackie Chan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Jackie Chan analyses, see The Young Master, Project A and Police Story 2.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jackie (codename "Condor") finishes a treasure hunt mission in Madrid, demonstrating his skills as a treasure-hunting agent. He's confident, capable, and operating in his established world of adventure.
Theme
Jackie's superior mentions that "some treasures are worth more than gold" - foreshadowing the importance of relationships and trust over material wealth, which Jackie will learn throughout his journey.
Worldbuilding
Establishes Jackie as a skilled treasure hunter working for the UN. He's a solo operator who prefers working alone. We meet his handler and learn about his reputation. He receives information about Nazi gold hidden in the Sahara Desert.
Disruption
Jackie is given a high-stakes mission to find 240 tons of Nazi gold in the Sahara before arms dealers do. He has only a key and must work with the granddaughter of a Nazi officer who has critical information.
Resistance
Jackie debates whether to take the dangerous mission. He travels to Madrid to meet Ada, the Nazi officer's granddaughter. She's reluctant to help. He also encounters Elsa, who claims to have part of the map. Multiple parties are after the gold, raising the danger.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jackie actively chooses to go into the Sahara Desert with Ada and Elsa despite the dangers, committing fully to the treasure hunt. This is his irreversible decision to enter the adventure world and trust potential allies.
Mirror World
Jackie begins developing relationships with Ada and Elsa, learning to work with others instead of alone. These women represent partnership and trust, challenging his lone-wolf approach and carrying the film's thematic heart.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Jackie, Ada, and Elsa navigate the Sahara, solve puzzles, explore the secret Nazi base, and engage in classic Jackie Chan action sequences. They bond as a team, encounter the comic relief Arab warrior, and discover the underground treasure facility.
Midpoint
They find the hidden Nazi base and discover the vast treasure - a false victory. They think they've succeeded, but the arms dealers led by Adolf arrive, revealing the true danger. The stakes escalate as they're now trapped with the treasure.
Opposition
Adolf and his mercenaries take control of the base. Jackie and his team are captured and separated. The bad guys systematically corner them in the underground facility. Multiple escape attempts fail. Trust within the group is tested as danger intensifies.
Collapse
Jackie and the women are separated and cornered in the wind tunnel facility with no apparent escape. They face seemingly certain death as the villains prepare to eliminate them. The treasure is lost and survival looks impossible.
Crisis
Jackie and his companions face their darkest moment trapped in the facility. They must find inner resolve and fully commit to working together as a team to survive, reflecting on what truly matters beyond the treasure.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jackie realizes that by trusting and working together with Ada and Elsa (applying the Mirror World lesson), they can turn their knowledge of the base against the villains. He devises a plan using teamwork instead of solo heroics.
Synthesis
The finale: Jackie and the team execute their plan, using the base's facilities and their combined skills. Epic action sequences ensue as they fight Adolf's forces. They work together perfectly, each contributing. The climax involves the wind tunnel and ultimate confrontation with Adolf.
Transformation
Jackie departs with Ada and Elsa as friends and partners, having learned that relationships and teamwork are the real treasure. Mirrors the opening where he worked alone, but now he values companionship and collaboration over solo glory.