The Marrying Man
Rich playboy Charley Pearl meets Vicki Anderson, singer at a nightclub in Las Vegas. But she's a gangster's-moll, Bugsy Siegel's, and when he finds the two of them in bed, he forces them to marry each other. Charley was going to marry his girlfriend but when she finds out about him and Vicki, she leaves him. And Vicki doesn't seem to be his kind of woman at all...
The film box office disappointment against its mid-range budget of $26.0M, earning $12.5M globally (-52% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its fresh perspective within the comedy genre.
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 Marrying Man (1991) showcases carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Jerry Rees'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 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Hollywood 1948. Charley Pearl, wealthy playboy heir to a studio fortune, prepares for his bachelor party weekend in Vegas, engaged to the socially appropriate Adele and living the carefree life of privilege.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Charley sees Vicki Anderson performing at Bugsy Siegel's casino and is instantly mesmerized. Despite knowing she's the dangerous mobster's girlfriend, he's drawn to her like a moth to flame.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Charley actively pursues Vicki despite the danger. They spend time together and consummate their relationship, crossing the point of no return. Bugsy discovers them together, threatening Charley's life., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Midpoint crisis: Another divorce from Vicki. Charley realizes this cycle is destroying him, but he can't stay away. The stakes raise as years pass and the pattern continues. False defeat: maybe they can't make it work., 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, Charley hits rock bottom. The relationship has cost him everything - reputation, family approval, stability. The "death" of his old life and identity. He faces the reality that this cycle cannot continue., shows 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. Charley realizes the truth: he'd rather have chaos with Vicki than peace without her. He accepts that this is who he is and who he loves, regardless of social convention. He chooses authenticity over propriety., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Marrying Man'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 The Marrying Man against these established plot points, we can identify how Jerry Rees utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Marrying Man within the comedy genre.
Jerry Rees's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Jerry Rees films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.6, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Marrying Man exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jerry Rees filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jerry Rees analyses, see The Brave Little Toaster.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Hollywood 1948. Charley Pearl, wealthy playboy heir to a studio fortune, prepares for his bachelor party weekend in Vegas, engaged to the socially appropriate Adele and living the carefree life of privilege.
Theme
Charley's friend warns him about getting involved with the wrong woman, specifically mentioning Bugsy Siegel's girlfriend. The theme: you can't control who you fall in love with, and passion versus propriety.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Charley's world: his wealthy background, engagement to Adele, his buddies, the Hollywood elite lifestyle, and the plan for a Vegas bachelor party weekend. Introduction of the era and social expectations.
Disruption
Charley sees Vicki Anderson performing at Bugsy Siegel's casino and is instantly mesmerized. Despite knowing she's the dangerous mobster's girlfriend, he's drawn to her like a moth to flame.
Resistance
Charley debates the wisdom of pursuing Vicki. His friends warn him about Bugsy. He wrestles with his attraction versus his safe engagement to Adele. The tension builds between what he should do and what he wants to do.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Charley actively pursues Vicki despite the danger. They spend time together and consummate their relationship, crossing the point of no return. Bugsy discovers them together, threatening Charley's life.
Mirror World
Forced to marry Vicki at gunpoint by Bugsy (to make an "honest woman" of her), Charley enters a whirlwind relationship that embodies the theme: passion trumping reason, love as an uncontrollable force.
Premise
The fun and games of Charley and Vicki's tumultuous relationship. They marry, divorce, remarry over the years. The promise of the premise: watching these two magnetically drawn together despite all logic, navigating their impossible passion.
Midpoint
Midpoint crisis: Another divorce from Vicki. Charley realizes this cycle is destroying him, but he can't stay away. The stakes raise as years pass and the pattern continues. False defeat: maybe they can't make it work.
Opposition
The opposition intensifies: social pressure, family disapproval, career consequences, and the toll of multiple marriages and divorces. Everyone tells them to stop, but they can't. Their pattern becomes increasingly destructive.
Collapse
Charley hits rock bottom. The relationship has cost him everything - reputation, family approval, stability. The "death" of his old life and identity. He faces the reality that this cycle cannot continue.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul: Charley processes what loving Vicki has cost him and what it means. He must decide if he's willing to accept this unconventional, chaotic love or walk away forever.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Charley realizes the truth: he'd rather have chaos with Vicki than peace without her. He accepts that this is who he is and who he loves, regardless of social convention. He chooses authenticity over propriety.
Synthesis
Charley and Vicki reunite, this time with acceptance of who they are together. No more fighting it, no more pretending they can be apart. They marry again, but this time with self-awareness and acceptance.
Transformation
Final image: Charley and Vicki together, older and wiser, having married each other multiple times. He's transformed from a man trying to fit convention to one who embraces his unconventional truth. Love wins, messily.