The Big Fix
In Los Angeles, Moses Wine, who was part of the counter-culture of the late 1960s at UC-Berkeley, still has those radical feelings but no longer does anything about them. His wife Suzanne, who has transformed from a 1960s hippie to a 1970s new-ageist, divorced him when his law school background didn't materialize into the upper middle class liberal life she was expecting, she having sole custody of their two young sons, with Moses having visitation rights. Moses fell into work as a private investigator of the gumshoe variety, which usually doesn't cover his monthly child support payments. After not seeing her for ten years, Moses is contacted by Lila Shea, an old girlfriend from Berkeley, to do some investigative work on behalf of her boss, Sam Sebastian, the Southern California coordinator for the gubernatorial campaign of Congressman Miles Hawthorne. Lila felt Moses would be well suited to the job because of running within "the" crowd at Berkeley, even if only knowing the main players by name and reputation. Flyers have been circulating with a doctored photo of Hawthorne and Howard Eppis in a friendly embrace, Eppis who in the late 1960s was part of the California 4 - the other three being Michael and Wendy Linker, and Luis Vasquez - an anti-establishment group convicted of several counts related to their work against the government. While the Linkers are behind bars probably for the rest of their lives, Luis Vasquez is a free man working for the rights of Mexican laborers, while Eppis has been a fugitive ever since, the authorities who are still looking for him. The flyers, which contain extreme socialist rhetoric and an implication of Hawthorne welcoming Eppis' endorsement, have the potential to derail Hawthorne's campaign. Moses is tasked with finding out who is behind the flyers - the most obvious being the campaign of Hawthorne's competitor, Senator Dillworthy - and if it is indeed not Eppis, why they would have specifically used Eppis' name. Moses accepts the job despite not endorsing Hawthorne - or Dillworthy for that matter - he equating Hawthorne's excitement factor to watching paint dry. The further Moses and Lila get into the investigation, the number of unanswered questions they have grows, and the more people who were associated with Eppis at the time cannot be located, including Oscar Procari, Jr., who funded the California 4's defense probably to spite his industrialist father. With the many trails, Moses and Lila still believe finding Eppis would answer many questions. All the while, Moses tries to rekindle a relationship with Lila. The investigation ends up having a change of focus with the potential for deadly violence on multiple levels and when incidents makes it personal to Moses.
Despite its small-scale budget of $3.8M, The Big Fix became a commercial success, earning $13.0M worldwide—a 242% return. The film's distinctive approach found its audience, 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%)
The Big Fix (1978) showcases carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Jeremy Kagan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Moses Wine
Lila Shea
Sam Sebastian
Suzanne Wine
Eppis
Oscar Procari Sr.
Main Cast & Characters
Moses Wine
Played by Richard Dreyfuss
A former 1960s radical turned private detective investigating political corruption while navigating personal responsibilities as a divorced father.
Lila Shea
Played by Susan Anspach
Moses' old flame from his activist days who hires him to investigate a political smear campaign, reigniting old feelings and conflicts.
Sam Sebastian
Played by John Lithgow
A liberal politician running for governor who becomes the center of the investigation into dirty campaign tactics.
Suzanne Wine
Played by Bonnie Bedelia
Moses' ex-wife who struggles with his unconventional lifestyle while co-parenting their two sons.
Eppis
Played by F. Murray Abraham
A volatile figure from the radical underground with dangerous connections to the case Moses is investigating.
Oscar Procari Sr.
Played by Nicolas Coster
A shady businessman and power broker connected to the political conspiracy Moses uncovers.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Moses Wine, a disheveled former 1960s radical, works as a struggling private investigator in Los Angeles, juggling his detective work with caring for his two sons after his divorce. The opening establishes his life of faded idealism and financial strain.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Lila Shea, Moses's former flame from his radical days, appears unexpectedly and hires him to investigate a political dirty trick: someone is distributing flyers linking liberal candidate Miles Hawthorne to fugitive radical Howard Eppis, threatening to derail the campaign.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Moses commits fully to the investigation after discovering the smear campaign may be connected to something far more sinister than political dirty tricks. He decides to dig into his past and find Howard Eppis, crossing into dangerous territory that could expose buried secrets., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Moses discovers a murder connected to the case, raising the stakes dramatically. What seemed like political mischief is revealed as a deadly conspiracy. The investigation becomes personal when he realizes someone close to the campaign may be involved in the killing., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Moses discovers the devastating truth about the conspiracy's mastermind - a betrayal by someone from his past he trusted. The revelation that former idealists are behind the corruption and murder shatters his remaining faith in the movement's legacy., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Moses realizes that exposing the truth is its own form of activism. He synthesizes his detective skills with his old idealism, understanding that fighting for justice case by case is how he can honor his principles in a corrupt world., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Big Fix'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 The Big Fix against these established plot points, we can identify how Jeremy Kagan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Big Fix within the comedy genre.
Jeremy Kagan's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Jeremy Kagan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Big Fix takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jeremy Kagan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Jeremy Kagan analyses, see The Journey of Natty Gann, The Sting II.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Moses Wine, a disheveled former 1960s radical, works as a struggling private investigator in Los Angeles, juggling his detective work with caring for his two sons after his divorce. The opening establishes his life of faded idealism and financial strain.
Theme
A character remarks about how the idealists of the sixties have either sold out or become disillusioned, stating the film's central question: can one hold onto principles in a corrupt world, or must idealism inevitably give way to cynicism?
Worldbuilding
We see Moses's daily life as a PI taking small cases, his relationship with his ex-wife and children, his cramped apartment, and glimpses of his radical past through photos and memorabilia. The 1970s Los Angeles political landscape is established as the gubernatorial race heats up.
Disruption
Lila Shea, Moses's former flame from his radical days, appears unexpectedly and hires him to investigate a political dirty trick: someone is distributing flyers linking liberal candidate Miles Hawthorne to fugitive radical Howard Eppis, threatening to derail the campaign.
Resistance
Moses debates whether to take the case, wrestling with his complicated feelings about Lila and his buried past. He begins preliminary investigation, visiting old haunts and contacts from the movement while questioning whether he wants to reopen these old wounds.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Moses commits fully to the investigation after discovering the smear campaign may be connected to something far more sinister than political dirty tricks. He decides to dig into his past and find Howard Eppis, crossing into dangerous territory that could expose buried secrets.
Mirror World
Moses reconnects romantically with Lila, their relationship reigniting old passions and forcing him to confront what he gave up when he abandoned the movement. Lila represents the road not taken and challenges Moses to rediscover his idealistic self.
Premise
Moses works the case with his unique style, blending detective work with countercultural connections. He tracks leads through the remnants of the radical community, encounters colorful characters from the movement, and pieces together clues about Eppis's whereabouts while navigating political intrigue.
Midpoint
Moses discovers a murder connected to the case, raising the stakes dramatically. What seemed like political mischief is revealed as a deadly conspiracy. The investigation becomes personal when he realizes someone close to the campaign may be involved in the killing.
Opposition
Powerful forces work to stop Moses's investigation. He faces threats, his car is vandalized, and people he interviews become frightened. The conspiracy reaches higher than expected, and Moses discovers that some former radicals have become the very establishment they once fought against.
Collapse
Moses discovers the devastating truth about the conspiracy's mastermind - a betrayal by someone from his past he trusted. The revelation that former idealists are behind the corruption and murder shatters his remaining faith in the movement's legacy.
Crisis
Moses grapples with the bitter knowledge that the sixties idealism he cherished has been corrupted. He questions whether anything from that era was genuine, and whether his own life as a disillusioned PI was the honest choice all along.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Moses realizes that exposing the truth is its own form of activism. He synthesizes his detective skills with his old idealism, understanding that fighting for justice case by case is how he can honor his principles in a corrupt world.
Synthesis
Moses executes his plan to expose the conspiracy, using his knowledge of both the radical underground and detective work. He confronts the villains, reveals the truth, and ensures justice is served, proving that one person can still make a difference.
Transformation
Moses Wine is no longer a cynical, struggling PI haunted by his past. He has integrated his radical idealism with his present reality, finding a way to live with principle. He returns to his sons and his work, but now with renewed purpose and self-acceptance.