'Round Midnight
In 'Round Midnight, real-life jazz legend Dexter Gordon brilliantly portrays the fictional tenor sax player Dale Turner, a musician slowly losing the battle with alcoholism, estranged from his family, and hanging on by a thread in the 1950's New York jazz world. Dale gets an offer to play in Paris, where, like many other black American musicians at the time, he enjoys a respect for his humanity that is not based upon the color of his skin. A Parisian man who is obsessed with Turner's music befriends him and attempts to save Turner from himself. Although for Dale the damage is already done, his poignant relationship with the man and his young daughter re-kindles his spirit and his music as the end draws near.
Despite its small-scale budget of $3.0M, 'Round Midnight became a financial success, earning $10.0M worldwide—a 233% return. The film's unconventional structure attracted moviegoers, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
'Round Midnight (1986) exemplifies carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Bertrand Tavernier's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 11 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Dale Turner
Francis Borler
Buttercup
Eddie Wayne
Main Cast & Characters
Dale Turner
Played by Dexter Gordon
An aging, alcoholic American jazz saxophonist living in Paris, struggling with addiction while trying to maintain his artistry.
Francis Borler
Played by François Cluzet
A devoted young French graphic designer and jazz enthusiast who befriends Dale and tries to help him overcome his demons.
Buttercup
Played by Sandra Reaves-Phillips
Dale Turner's daughter living in New York, representing his family ties and past life in America.
Eddie Wayne
Played by Herbie Hancock
A fellow American jazz musician and friend of Dale's who performs with him in Paris.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Dale Turner performs at the Blue Note jazz club in Paris, barely functioning, drunk and deteriorating - a broken genius living in squalor and self-destruction.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Dale collapses outside the club in the rain, severely ill from drinking. Francis finds him and sees how desperate his situation truly is.. At 11% 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Dale agrees to move in with Francis and his family, choosing to accept help and try to get clean. It's an active choice to attempt recovery., moving from reaction to action.
At 65 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Dale records a triumphant album, sober and brilliant. It seems like the comeback is complete - a false victory. But we see cracks: Dale is restless, the temptation is still there., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 97 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Dale relapses completely, disappearing into a binge. Francis finds him in a bar, drunk and defeated. The dream of salvation dies - Dale will never truly escape his addiction., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 104 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Dale decides to return to New York, accepting that he needs to face his demons in his own way. Francis lets him go, understanding that love sometimes means releasing someone., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
'Round Midnight's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping 'Round Midnight against these established plot points, we can identify how Bertrand Tavernier utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish 'Round Midnight within the drama genre.
Bertrand Tavernier's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Bertrand Tavernier films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. 'Round Midnight takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bertrand Tavernier filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Bertrand Tavernier analyses, see The French Minister, The Princess of Montpensier.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Dale Turner performs at the Blue Note jazz club in Paris, barely functioning, drunk and deteriorating - a broken genius living in squalor and self-destruction.
Theme
Francis tells Dale, "Your music is worth saving" - establishing the film's central question: can art survive when the artist is destroying himself?
Worldbuilding
We see Dale's world: the jazz clubs of Paris, his alcoholism, his talent, his poverty. Francis, a young graphic designer and devoted fan, watches Dale perform and lives vicariously through his music.
Disruption
Dale collapses outside the club in the rain, severely ill from drinking. Francis finds him and sees how desperate his situation truly is.
Resistance
Francis debates whether to get involved. He brings Dale to his modest apartment, nurses him back to health. Dale is reluctant to accept help, resistant to change, but too weak to refuse.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Dale agrees to move in with Francis and his family, choosing to accept help and try to get clean. It's an active choice to attempt recovery.
Mirror World
Dale bonds with Francis's young daughter Berangere, who is innocent and pure. She represents what Dale has lost and what Francis is trying to preserve - the beauty that can exist without self-destruction.
Premise
The promise of the premise: watching Dale recover, create music sober, mentor younger musicians. Francis sacrifices his own life to manage Dale's career. Beautiful performances, growing friendship, hope for redemption.
Midpoint
Dale records a triumphant album, sober and brilliant. It seems like the comeback is complete - a false victory. But we see cracks: Dale is restless, the temptation is still there.
Opposition
The strain grows. Francis's marriage suffers from his obsession with saving Dale. Dale receives an offer to return to New York. Old demons resurface. The lifestyle of sobriety feels foreign to Dale.
Collapse
Dale relapses completely, disappearing into a binge. Francis finds him in a bar, drunk and defeated. The dream of salvation dies - Dale will never truly escape his addiction.
Crisis
Dale and Francis both face the darkness. Francis realizes he cannot save Dale. Dale faces the reality that he will likely drink himself to death. A painful acceptance of truth.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Dale decides to return to New York, accepting that he needs to face his demons in his own way. Francis lets him go, understanding that love sometimes means releasing someone.
Synthesis
Dale returns to America. Time passes. Francis receives news that Dale has died. But Dale left him his saxophone. The music survives even when the artist cannot.
Transformation
Francis plays Dale's recordings for his daughter. The music endures, beautiful and immortal. What they shared was real and worth it, even though Dale could not be saved.