Raw Deal
Joe Sullivan is itching to get out of prison. He's taken the rap for Rick, who owes him $50,000. Rick sets up an escape for Joe, knowing that Joe will be caught escaping and be shot or locked away forever. But with the help of his love-struck girl Pat and his sympathetic legal caseworker Ann, Joe gets further than he's supposed to, and we are posed with two very important questions: Is Joe really the cold and heartless criminal he appears to be, or is there a heart of gold under that gritty exterior? And does Joe belong with the tough, street-wise Pat, or with the prim, moralizing Ann?
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%)
Raw Deal (1948) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Anthony Mann's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 19 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Joe Sullivan sits trapped in prison, a man caged by betrayal and burning with the need for revenge against Rick Coyle who set him up.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The First Threshold at 19 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Joe makes the fateful choice to go after Rick Coyle and the $50,000 he's owed, committing fully to the path of vengeance rather than escape. He crosses into the criminal underworld with no turning back., moving from reaction to action.
At 40 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False defeat: Joe finally confronts Rick, but Rick reveals the money was never meant for Joe—the jailbreak was arranged so Rick could have Joe killed outside prison. The revenge plot is exposed as another trap., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 59 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Pat is mortally wounded, the faithful woman who sacrificed everything for Joe's love. In her dying moments, the dream of their life together dies with her—the "whiff of death" that destroys Joe's last connection to his criminal past., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 64 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The finale: Joe invades Rick's lair for the final confrontation. In the climactic shootout, Joe kills Rick but is mortally wounded. He synthesizes the lessons of both women—Pat's loyalty and Ann's moral clarity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Raw Deal's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Raw Deal against these established plot points, we can identify how Anthony Mann utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Raw Deal within the crime genre.
Anthony Mann's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Anthony Mann films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Raw Deal takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Anthony Mann filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Anthony Mann analyses, see The Fall of the Roman Empire, The Man from Laramie and El Cid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Joe Sullivan sits trapped in prison, a man caged by betrayal and burning with the need for revenge against Rick Coyle who set him up.
Theme
Pat Cameron, Joe's loyal girlfriend, voices the film's central question about whether love and redemption can survive in a world of violence and betrayal: "You can't win against men like that."
Worldbuilding
The noir universe is established: Joe imprisoned by gangster Rick Coyle's double-cross, Pat waiting faithfully outside, legal secretary Ann Martin drawn into the criminal world, and the dark conspiracy of Coyle's plan to eliminate Joe.
Resistance
On the run, Joe must navigate the treacherous landscape with both Pat and the kidnapped Ann. He debates his next move—pursue vengeance against Rick or escape to freedom—while Ann represents the moral path he's never considered.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Joe makes the fateful choice to go after Rick Coyle and the $50,000 he's owed, committing fully to the path of vengeance rather than escape. He crosses into the criminal underworld with no turning back.
Premise
The noir premise unfolds: Joe pursues Rick through the criminal underworld, navigating betrayals, deadly confrontations, and the complications of the love triangle between Joe, Pat, and Ann. The promise of violent revenge drives the narrative.
Midpoint
False defeat: Joe finally confronts Rick, but Rick reveals the money was never meant for Joe—the jailbreak was arranged so Rick could have Joe killed outside prison. The revenge plot is exposed as another trap.
Opposition
Rick's forces close in while Pat's jealousy over Ann intensifies. Joe is hunted by both the law and the underworld. The emotional triangle tightens as Pat realizes she's losing Joe to Ann's redemptive influence.
Collapse
Pat is mortally wounded, the faithful woman who sacrificed everything for Joe's love. In her dying moments, the dream of their life together dies with her—the "whiff of death" that destroys Joe's last connection to his criminal past.
Crisis
Joe mourns Pat and confronts the cost of his violent life. Ann offers the possibility of redemption and escape, but Joe must decide whether vengeance or salvation will define his final act.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: Joe invades Rick's lair for the final confrontation. In the climactic shootout, Joe kills Rick but is mortally wounded. He synthesizes the lessons of both women—Pat's loyalty and Ann's moral clarity.
Transformation
Joe dies in Ann's arms, transformed from a hardened criminal seeking revenge into a man who found redemption through sacrifice. The closing image shows Ann freed but forever marked by Joe's tragic nobility.