Rollover
Lee Winters, the go-getting widow of a murdered petrochemical company chairman, and Hubbell Smith, a professional sent by the First New York Bank chairman Maxwell Emery to investigate the liquidity of one of their banks, fall for each other and team up to get to the bottom of things. Their investigations lead them to the discovery of an international financial scheme involving her husband's company and the Arab states that could lead to global economic collapse and render U.S. dollar worthless.
The film earned $10.2M at the global box office.
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%)
Rollover (1981) demonstrates strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Alan J. Pakula's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Lee Winters
Hub Smith
Maxwell Emery
Roy Lefcourt
Sal Naftari
Main Cast & Characters
Lee Winters
Played by Jane Fonda
Former actress who inherits control of a petrochemical company after her husband's murder and becomes embroiled in an international financial conspiracy.
Hub Smith
Played by Kris Kristofferson
Bank troubleshooter and financial investigator who helps Lee uncover the conspiracy and becomes her romantic interest.
Maxwell Emery
Played by Hume Cronyn
Lee's husband and petrochemical company head whose murder sets the conspiracy in motion.
Roy Lefcourt
Played by Josef Sommer
Powerful banker involved in international financial dealings, representing established banking interests.
Sal Naftari
Played by Bob Gunton
Financial player connected to Middle Eastern oil money and the rollover scheme.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lee Winters is established as a glamorous former actress married to wealthy petrochemical executive Maxwell Emery, living in the rarefied world of Manhattan high society and corporate power.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Maxwell Emery is murdered in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong, but suspicious circumstances suggest something far more sinister. Lee suddenly inherits control of the troubled petrochemical company and becomes a target.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Lee decides to take active control of the company rather than sell, committing herself to understanding and fighting within the corrupt financial system. She accepts Hub's help and agrees to dig deeper into her husband's secret dealings., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Lee and Hub discover the true scope of the conspiracy: the Arabs are systematically withdrawing their petrodollars from American banks, and if the "rollover" stops, it will trigger a catastrophic global financial collapse. The stakes shift from personal survival to worldwide economic disaster., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The financial collapse begins. Markets start crashing as the Arab rollover stops and panic spreads. Lee realizes that even exposing the truth won't stop the disaster—the system is too fragile and the forces too powerful. Hub is severely beaten as a warning., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Lee accepts that while she cannot prevent the collapse, she can choose how to face it. She and Hub decide to expose everything they know, regardless of consequences, choosing truth and integrity over self-preservation in a dying system., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Rollover'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 Rollover against these established plot points, we can identify how Alan J. Pakula utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Rollover within the drama genre.
Alan J. Pakula's Structural Approach
Among the 11 Alan J. Pakula films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Rollover takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alan J. Pakula filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Alan J. Pakula analyses, see Presumed Innocent, The Pelican Brief and All the President's Men.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lee Winters is established as a glamorous former actress married to wealthy petrochemical executive Maxwell Emery, living in the rarefied world of Manhattan high society and corporate power.
Theme
A character remarks on the fragility of the financial system, suggesting that everything is built on confidence and when that disappears, the whole structure collapses—foreshadowing the film's exploration of how interconnected and vulnerable global finance truly is.
Worldbuilding
The world of 1980s high finance is established: corporate boardrooms, international banking, the flow of petrodollars, and the tensions between American business interests and Arab oil wealth. Lee's comfortable life and her husband's business dealings are introduced.
Disruption
Maxwell Emery is murdered in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong, but suspicious circumstances suggest something far more sinister. Lee suddenly inherits control of the troubled petrochemical company and becomes a target.
Resistance
Lee struggles with whether to take control of the company or sell. She meets Hub Smith, a bank troubleshooter assigned to assess the company's loan situation. Hub begins explaining the complexities of international finance and the dangerous world she's inherited.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lee decides to take active control of the company rather than sell, committing herself to understanding and fighting within the corrupt financial system. She accepts Hub's help and agrees to dig deeper into her husband's secret dealings.
Mirror World
Lee and Hub's relationship deepens beyond business as they become lovers. Their intimate connection provides Lee with both emotional support and a trusted ally, while Hub begins to see the financial world through more critical eyes.
Premise
Lee and Hub investigate the tangled web of secret accounts and hidden money flows. They navigate boardroom politics, meet with Saudi investors, and begin uncovering the massive conspiracy involving Arab petrodollar "rollovers" that could destabilize the entire global economy.
Midpoint
Lee and Hub discover the true scope of the conspiracy: the Arabs are systematically withdrawing their petrodollars from American banks, and if the "rollover" stops, it will trigger a catastrophic global financial collapse. The stakes shift from personal survival to worldwide economic disaster.
Opposition
Powerful forces move to silence Lee and Hub. The banking establishment turns against them, their investigation is blocked at every turn, and people connected to the conspiracy begin dying. Lee's company faces hostile takeover attempts while Hub is pressured by his own bank.
Collapse
The financial collapse begins. Markets start crashing as the Arab rollover stops and panic spreads. Lee realizes that even exposing the truth won't stop the disaster—the system is too fragile and the forces too powerful. Hub is severely beaten as a warning.
Crisis
Lee faces the devastating reality that she cannot stop the collapse. She must confront her own complicity in a system built on illusion and greed. Hub recovers but they both realize they've been fighting an unstoppable tide.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lee accepts that while she cannot prevent the collapse, she can choose how to face it. She and Hub decide to expose everything they know, regardless of consequences, choosing truth and integrity over self-preservation in a dying system.
Synthesis
The global financial system collapses in a montage of chaos: stock markets crashing, banks failing, riots erupting worldwide. Lee and Hub watch the destruction they tried to prevent, knowing they told the truth but couldn't change the outcome.
Transformation
In the aftermath of global economic devastation, Lee and Hub stand together amid the ruins of the old financial order. Lee has transformed from a naive actress-widow into someone who understands the brutal realities of power and money—but at the cost of witnessing civilization's near-collapse.