Pollyanna
A little girl comes to a town that is embattled by feuds and intimidated by her aunt. By the time she must leave, she has transformed the community with her indominatable will to see the good side of even the worst situations and bring it out for the betterment of all.
Working with a modest budget of $2.5M, the film achieved a modest success with $3.8M in global revenue (+50% profit margin).
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award2 wins & 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%)
Pollyanna (1960) exhibits deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of David Swift's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 14 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Pollyanna Whittier
Aunt Polly Harrington
Reverend Paul Ford
Dr. Edmund Chilton
Nancy Furman
Mrs. Snow
Mr. Pendergast
Jimmy Bean
Main Cast & Characters
Pollyanna Whittier
Played by Hayley Mills
An optimistic orphan girl who transforms a rigid New England town through her infectious "Glad Game" philosophy, spreading joy despite her own hardships.
Aunt Polly Harrington
Played by Jane Wyman
A wealthy, stern, and controlling widow who dominates the town of Harrington, initially cold to her orphaned niece but gradually softened by Pollyanna's influence.
Reverend Paul Ford
Played by Karl Malden
A young minister struggling with disillusionment and the weight of preaching to a rigid congregation, who finds renewed purpose through Pollyanna's optimism.
Dr. Edmund Chilton
Played by Richard Egan
A kind-hearted physician and Aunt Polly's former suitor, who still carries a torch for her despite years of estrangement.
Nancy Furman
Played by Nancy Olson
The warm and sympathetic household maid who becomes Pollyanna's first friend and ally in Aunt Polly's home.
Mrs. Snow
Played by Agnes Moorehead
A bedridden hypochondriac who wallows in self-pity and expects to die, transformed by Pollyanna's persistent cheerfulness into finding reasons to live.
Mr. Pendergast
Played by Adolphe Menjou
A reclusive, bitter hermit who has withdrawn from society after personal tragedy, gradually drawn back to life by Pollyanna's friendship.
Jimmy Bean
Played by Kevin Corcoran
A scrappy orphan boy befriended by Pollyanna who is eventually adopted by Mr. Pendergast.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Pollyanna arrives in Harrington by train, orphaned but cheerful, carrying her few belongings. The town appears rigid and unwelcoming under Aunt Polly's stern influence.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Pollyanna sneaks out of the house to explore the town on her own, defying Aunt Polly's strict rules. This act of independence sets her on a collision course with the town's rigid social order.. 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 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Pollyanna actively chooses to bring the glad game to the entire town, starting with convincing Reverend Ford to change his preaching style. She commits to transforming Harrington rather than simply surviving in it., moving from reaction to action.
At 67 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The town bazaar is a huge success, celebrating on the Pendergast estate with the whole town united in joy. Pollyanna appears to have won - but Aunt Polly's anger at losing control and public humiliation sets up the reversal. False victory., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 101 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Pollyanna falls from the tree outside her window while trying to sneak out. She suffers severe spinal injuries and the doctor says she may never walk again. The girl who brought joy to everyone loses her ability to play the glad game., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 108 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The entire town gathers outside Aunt Polly's house in a spontaneous show of love for Pollyanna, bringing gifts and testimonies of how she changed their lives. This outpouring shows Aunt Polly what truly matters and gives Pollyanna hope. Synthesis of the glad game's true power., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Pollyanna'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 Pollyanna against these established plot points, we can identify how David Swift utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Pollyanna within the comedy genre.
David Swift's Structural Approach
Among the 3 David Swift films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.5, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Pollyanna takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete David Swift filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more David Swift analyses, see The Parent Trap, Good Neighbor Sam.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Pollyanna arrives in Harrington by train, orphaned but cheerful, carrying her few belongings. The town appears rigid and unwelcoming under Aunt Polly's stern influence.
Theme
Nancy the maid mentions the "glad game" when Pollyanna explains her father's teaching: finding something to be glad about in every situation, no matter how bad things seem.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Harrington as a joyless town dominated by wealthy Aunt Polly Harrington. Pollyanna meets the household staff, is given a barren attic room, and we see the town's various unhappy residents: the hypochondriac Mrs. Snow, the stern Reverend Ford, and the reclusive Mr. Pendergast.
Disruption
Pollyanna sneaks out of the house to explore the town on her own, defying Aunt Polly's strict rules. This act of independence sets her on a collision course with the town's rigid social order.
Resistance
Pollyanna begins applying the glad game to everyone she meets: she befriends Jimmy Bean, teaches the game to Mrs. Snow, and starts questioning why Reverend Ford preaches only hellfire sermons. She resists conforming to Aunt Polly's expectations while learning the town's dynamics.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Pollyanna actively chooses to bring the glad game to the entire town, starting with convincing Reverend Ford to change his preaching style. She commits to transforming Harrington rather than simply surviving in it.
Mirror World
Pollyanna befriends the reclusive Mr. Pendergast in his mansion, discovering he was once in love with Aunt Polly. This relationship represents the film's theme: reconnection, forgiveness, and finding joy after years of bitterness.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Pollyanna's glad game transforming the town. Mrs. Snow leaves her sickbed, Reverend Ford starts preaching happier sermons, Mr. Pendergast opens his home, the bazaar is planned, and townspeople begin standing up to Aunt Polly's control. The promise of joy spreading through Harrington.
Midpoint
The town bazaar is a huge success, celebrating on the Pendergast estate with the whole town united in joy. Pollyanna appears to have won - but Aunt Polly's anger at losing control and public humiliation sets up the reversal. False victory.
Opposition
Aunt Polly cracks down on Pollyanna, forbidding her friendships and activities. The town's transformation angers her further. Pollyanna feels increasingly trapped and misunderstood. The opposition to joy intensifies as Aunt Polly tries to reassert control and send Jimmy Bean away.
Collapse
Pollyanna falls from the tree outside her window while trying to sneak out. She suffers severe spinal injuries and the doctor says she may never walk again. The girl who brought joy to everyone loses her ability to play the glad game.
Crisis
Pollyanna lies in bed, unable to find anything to be glad about in her paralysis. Aunt Polly faces the consequences of her rigidity. The town grieves for Pollyanna, realizing how much she meant to them. Dark night of despair.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The entire town gathers outside Aunt Polly's house in a spontaneous show of love for Pollyanna, bringing gifts and testimonies of how she changed their lives. This outpouring shows Aunt Polly what truly matters and gives Pollyanna hope. Synthesis of the glad game's true power.
Synthesis
Aunt Polly transforms, reconciling with Mr. Pendergast and the town. She takes Pollyanna to a specialist in Baltimore. The town continues Pollyanna's legacy of gladness. Pollyanna begins to hope again, finding something to be glad about even in her injury.
Transformation
Pollyanna returns to Harrington standing on the train platform with crutches, greeted by the entire transformed town. Aunt Polly and Mr. Pendergast stand together. The closing image mirrors the opening arrival, but now the town is full of joy and Pollyanna is surrounded by love.