Rock-a-Bye Baby
Reworking of Preston Sturges' original story, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek. Clayton Poole's a small town TV repairman in a small town, who's still in love with his former hometown sweetheart, Carla Naples - who's now a famous movie star. When Carla becomes pregnant after a hasty marriage, the studio tells her a baby will ruin her career. She turns to the only peraon she can trust; Clayton,who sagrees to care for the baby
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%)
Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958) exhibits deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Frank Tashlin's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Clayton Poole works as a simple TV repairman in his small town, carrying a torch for his old high school sweetheart Carla Naples who became a famous movie star.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Carla suddenly returns to town pregnant with triplets, her career in jeopardy, desperately needing help to keep the situation secret from the press and public.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Clayton makes the active choice to help Carla by agreeing to pose as the father of the triplets and take care of the babies, entering a chaotic new world of fatherhood., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Clayton has successfully managed the babies and the secret seems safe; Carla's career is protected, but the stakes raise when the deception becomes more elaborate and risky., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The truth threatens to explode publicly, Clayton loses Sandy's trust, and his reputation is destroyed - the death of his dignity, his chance at real love, and his simple honest life., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Clayton realizes he must tell the truth and stop living a lie, choosing authenticity and real love over fantasy and deception; finds courage to confront the situation honestly., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Rock-a-Bye Baby'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 Rock-a-Bye Baby against these established plot points, we can identify how Frank Tashlin utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Rock-a-Bye Baby within the comedy genre.
Frank Tashlin's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Frank Tashlin films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Rock-a-Bye Baby represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Frank Tashlin filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Frank Tashlin analyses, see Cinderfella, The Disorderly Orderly and The Geisha Boy.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Clayton Poole works as a simple TV repairman in his small town, carrying a torch for his old high school sweetheart Carla Naples who became a famous movie star.
Theme
A character mentions that 'real love means sacrifice' - establishing the film's theme about what people do for those they care about.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Clayton's mundane life, his unrequited love for Carla, his work as a TV repairman, and the contrast between his small-town existence and Carla's Hollywood glamour.
Disruption
Carla suddenly returns to town pregnant with triplets, her career in jeopardy, desperately needing help to keep the situation secret from the press and public.
Resistance
Clayton wrestles with whether to help Carla, debates the impossibility of the situation, and considers the consequences of pretending to be the father of triplets.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Clayton makes the active choice to help Carla by agreeing to pose as the father of the triplets and take care of the babies, entering a chaotic new world of fatherhood.
Mirror World
Introduction of Sandy, Clayton's actual love interest who represents genuine affection versus his idealized fantasy of Carla, creating a romantic subplot that carries the theme.
Premise
The comedic fun of watching hapless Clayton struggle with caring for triplets - diaper changes, feedings, and chaos - while trying to maintain the deception from nosy neighbors and press.
Midpoint
False victory: Clayton has successfully managed the babies and the secret seems safe; Carla's career is protected, but the stakes raise when the deception becomes more elaborate and risky.
Opposition
The lies multiply and become harder to maintain; reporters close in; Sandy grows suspicious and hurt; Clayton's genuine life and relationships suffer as he serves Carla's needs.
Collapse
The truth threatens to explode publicly, Clayton loses Sandy's trust, and his reputation is destroyed - the death of his dignity, his chance at real love, and his simple honest life.
Crisis
Clayton reflects on his misplaced devotion to Carla versus the genuine connection he could have with Sandy; processes that his fantasy prevented him from seeing real love.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Clayton realizes he must tell the truth and stop living a lie, choosing authenticity and real love over fantasy and deception; finds courage to confront the situation honestly.
Synthesis
Clayton orchestrates the resolution: reveals the truth, helps Carla take responsibility, wins back Sandy's trust through honesty, and demonstrates growth from doormat to man of integrity.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening but transformed: Clayton with Sandy in genuine partnership, no longer pining for fantasy but embracing real love, having learned true sacrifice means honoring yourself too.