Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
An NYPD cop is 'killed' in an accident. The death is faked, and he is inducted into the organization CURE, dedicated to preserving the constitution by working outside of it. Remo is to become the enforcement wing (assassin) of CURE, and learns an ancient Korean martial art from Chiun, the Master of Sinanju. Based on the popular pulp series "The Destroyer," by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy.
The film earned $14.4M at the global box office.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 4 nominations
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%)
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) showcases strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Guy Hamilton's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Remo Williams
Chiun
Major Rayner Fleming
George Grove
Conn MacCleary
Main Cast & Characters
Remo Williams
Played by Fred Ward
A tough NYPD cop who is framed for murder, officially killed, and recruited into a secret government organization to become an assassin trained in the ancient Korean martial art of Sinanju.
Chiun
Played by Joel Grey
An elderly Korean master of Sinanju, the world's greatest martial art. Sarcastic, demanding, and fiercely proud of his heritage, he serves as Remo's trainer and reluctant mentor.
Major Rayner Fleming
Played by Wilford Brimley
A military officer and handler who recruits Remo into the secret CURE organization and oversees his transformation into a covert operative.
George Grove
Played by Charles Cioffi
A corrupt defense contractor and industrialist who serves as the primary antagonist, involved in a conspiracy involving defective military equipment.
Conn MacCleary
Played by J.A. Preston
Head of the secret government organization CURE who orchestrates Remo's recruitment and transformation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes NYPD cop Sam Makin walks his beat on the streets of New York, a tough street cop doing his regular patrol work in his ordinary world.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Sam Makin is ambushed, beaten, and his "death" is staged as a car crash into the river by operatives working for CURE.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Remo is delivered to Chiun, the Master of Sinanju, to begin his training. He crosses into a new world of ancient martial arts discipline, leaving behind any hope of his old life., moving from reaction to action.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Remo successfully infiltrates the Statue of Liberty construction site and confronts the corrupt contractor, demonstrating his evolved abilities. False victory - he thinks he's mastered his skills, but the stakes are about to escalate., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Remo is captured, strapped to a table, and nearly killed by the diamond-armed assassin Stone. Chiun appears to have abandoned him. Remo faces death alone, the whiff of death literal., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 96 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Remo reunites with Chiun and fully embraces his teaching. The synthesis moment - combining his American determination with Sinanju discipline, he's ready for the final confrontation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins against these established plot points, we can identify how Guy Hamilton utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins within the action genre.
Guy Hamilton's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Guy Hamilton films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Guy Hamilton filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Guy Hamilton analyses, see Live and Let Die, The Mirror Crack'd and Force 10 from Navarone.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
NYPD cop Sam Makin walks his beat on the streets of New York, a tough street cop doing his regular patrol work in his ordinary world.
Theme
Harold Smith tells MacCleary that what they need is "an army of one" - someone who doesn't exist, can't be compromised, and embodies perfect discipline and sacrifice for a greater cause.
Worldbuilding
Establishing the corrupt defense contract world, CURE organization operating in shadows, and Sam Makin as an honest cop who witnesses Grove Industries illegally dumping weapons in the harbor.
Disruption
Sam Makin is ambushed, beaten, and his "death" is staged as a car crash into the river by operatives working for CURE.
Resistance
Sam awakens to find his identity erased, given the name Remo Williams, and is recruited by Harold Smith who explains CURE's mission and his new purpose as their assassin.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Remo is delivered to Chiun, the Master of Sinanju, to begin his training. He crosses into a new world of ancient martial arts discipline, leaving behind any hope of his old life.
Mirror World
Chiun becomes the thematic counterpoint - the wise mentor who will teach Remo that true power comes from discipline, not brute force. Their relationship embodies the theme of transformation through sacrifice.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Remo's training with Chiun - dodging bullets, learning to move with impossible speed and grace, and his first missions testing his new abilities against targets.
Midpoint
Remo successfully infiltrates the Statue of Liberty construction site and confronts the corrupt contractor, demonstrating his evolved abilities. False victory - he thinks he's mastered his skills, but the stakes are about to escalate.
Opposition
The conspiracy fights back - assassins are sent after Remo, Major Fleming gets closer to the truth, and Remo must protect Major Fleming while battling increasingly dangerous enemies. His cockiness and incomplete training work against him.
Collapse
Remo is captured, strapped to a table, and nearly killed by the diamond-armed assassin Stone. Chiun appears to have abandoned him. Remo faces death alone, the whiff of death literal.
Crisis
Remo escapes but must process that he cannot win through brute force or American bravado. He needs Chiun's wisdom and must fully commit to the discipline he's been resisting.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Remo reunites with Chiun and fully embraces his teaching. The synthesis moment - combining his American determination with Sinanju discipline, he's ready for the final confrontation.
Synthesis
The finale assault on Grove's compound - Remo and Chiun fight through defenses, Remo defeats Stone using his perfected skills, and Grove is brought to justice, dismantling the conspiracy.
Transformation
Remo walks with Chiun in peaceful harmony, transformed from a street cop into a disciplined master assassin. He has embraced his new identity and purpose, the "after" image showing complete transformation.