Sabrina
Linus and David Larrabee are the two sons of a very wealthy family. Linus is all work -- busily running the family corporate empire with no time for a wife and family. David is all play -- technically employed in the family business but never showing up for work, spending all his time entertaining, and having been married and divorced three times. Sabrina Fairchild is the young, shy, and awkward daughter of the household chauffeur, who has been infatuated with David all her life, but whom David hardly notices till she goes away to Paris for two years and returns an elegant, sophisticated, beautiful woman. Suddenly, she finds she's captured David's attention, but just as she does so, she finds herself also falling in love with Linus, and she finds that Linus is also falling in love with her.
Despite its small-scale budget of $2.2M, Sabrina became a box office success, earning $10.0M worldwide—a 347% return. The film's distinctive approach resonated with audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
1 Oscar. 7 wins & 8 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%)
Sabrina (1954) showcases strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Billy Wilder's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 53 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Sabrina watches from a tree as David Larabee dances with glamorous women at a party. She is the invisible chauffeur's daughter, hopelessly infatuated with the playboy younger son of the wealthy family her father serves.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Sabrina attempts suicide by carbon monoxide in the garage, despairing over her unrequited love for David. This desperate act catalyzes her father's decision to send her to Paris for cooking school.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Sabrina returns to Long Island as a transformed, sophisticated woman and actively chooses to pursue David. She arrives at the train station with new confidence, no longer the invisible girl but a woman worthy of notice., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Linus takes Sabrina to the office late at night and they share an intimate moment. What began as manipulation becomes real—Linus realizes he's genuinely falling for Sabrina. False victory: Sabrina believes she's winning Linus's heart, unaware it started as a ploy., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sabrina discovers Linus's deception—that he was manipulating her all along to distract her from David for the merger. Her dreams shatter; trust dies. She prepares to leave for Paris alone, heartbroken and disillusioned., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. David and Linus's father push Linus to recognize what matters. Linus realizes he must choose love over duty, life over work. He decides to go to Sabrina, synthesizing the lesson about balance between seriousness and joy., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Sabrina's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Sabrina against these established plot points, we can identify how Billy Wilder utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Sabrina within the comedy genre.
Billy Wilder's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Billy Wilder films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 5.6, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Sabrina represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Billy Wilder filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Billy Wilder analyses, see The Seven Year Itch, Witness for the Prosecution and The Apartment.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sabrina watches from a tree as David Larabee dances with glamorous women at a party. She is the invisible chauffeur's daughter, hopelessly infatuated with the playboy younger son of the wealthy family her father serves.
Theme
Sabrina's father tells her about the two Larabee brothers: "The younger one is not serious, the older one is too serious." This establishes the thematic tension between work/responsibility and love/life that the film explores.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the world: the wealthy Larabee family estate, Sabrina's role as the invisible servant's daughter, David's playboy lifestyle, Linus's workaholic nature, and the upcoming corporate merger requiring David to marry Elizabeth Tyson.
Disruption
Sabrina attempts suicide by carbon monoxide in the garage, despairing over her unrequited love for David. This desperate act catalyzes her father's decision to send her to Paris for cooking school.
Resistance
Sabrina's two-year transformation in Paris. She debates her identity, learns sophistication from Baron St. Fontanel, and evolves from awkward girl to elegant woman. This montage shows her preparation for re-entry into the world that once ignored her.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Sabrina returns to Long Island as a transformed, sophisticated woman and actively chooses to pursue David. She arrives at the train station with new confidence, no longer the invisible girl but a woman worthy of notice.
Mirror World
Sabrina encounters Linus Larabee for the first time as an adult. He represents everything David is not—serious, responsible, lonely. This relationship will teach Sabrina what true love and partnership mean, beyond schoolgirl infatuation.
Premise
The fun: Sabrina successfully captivates David, who doesn't recognize her. Linus must intervene to protect the merger by keeping David away from Sabrina. Linus pretends to romance Sabrina himself, leading to witty exchanges, the indoor tennis court scene, and growing chemistry.
Midpoint
Linus takes Sabrina to the office late at night and they share an intimate moment. What began as manipulation becomes real—Linus realizes he's genuinely falling for Sabrina. False victory: Sabrina believes she's winning Linus's heart, unaware it started as a ploy.
Opposition
Complications intensify: Linus's feelings deepen while his deception continues. David recovers and wants Sabrina back. The merger pressure mounts. Linus's brother and father see through his feelings. Linus struggles between duty and desire, increasingly torn.
Collapse
Sabrina discovers Linus's deception—that he was manipulating her all along to distract her from David for the merger. Her dreams shatter; trust dies. She prepares to leave for Paris alone, heartbroken and disillusioned.
Crisis
Linus faces his dark night: he's hurt the woman he loves and returned to his empty workaholic existence. Sabrina prepares to sail away. Both process the loss—Sabrina of her illusions, Linus of his chance at love and life beyond work.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
David and Linus's father push Linus to recognize what matters. Linus realizes he must choose love over duty, life over work. He decides to go to Sabrina, synthesizing the lesson about balance between seriousness and joy.
Synthesis
Linus arranges the merger without David's marriage, races to the boat, and pursues Sabrina to Paris. He sheds his all-work identity, choosing love and life. The finale resolves both the romantic and thematic arcs.
Transformation
Linus boards the ship to Paris, briefcase in hand but finally pursuing love. Sabrina finds him on deck. The serious man has learned to live; the dreamy girl has found real love. Both transformed, they sail toward Paris together.