The Prince of Tides
A troubled Southern man talks to his suicidal sister's psychiatrist about their family history and falls in love with her (and New York City) in the process.
Despite a respectable budget of $30.0M, The Prince of Tides became a solid performer, earning $74.8M worldwide—a 149% return.
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 Prince of Tides (1991) showcases strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Barbra Streisand's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 12 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.4, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tom Wingo narrates poetic memories of his Southern childhood, establishing his role as storyteller and his deep connection to the South Carolina Lowcountry, though hints of darkness lurk beneath the beauty.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Tom receives an urgent call that Savannah has attempted suicide in New York. Her psychiatrist Dr. Susan Lowenstein requests his help, forcing Tom to leave his comfortable avoidance and confront his family's past.. 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Tom commits to working with Dr. Lowenstein to explore his and Savannah's shared childhood memories. He actively chooses to stay in New York and begin the painful process of excavating family secrets., moving from reaction to action.
At 66 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Tom and Susan fully consummate their relationship, and Tom experiences a false victory: he believes love and therapy are healing him, but he hasn't yet confronted the deepest trauma. Stakes rise as his marriage and Susan's relationship are now at risk., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 99 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tom finally reveals the most devastating secret: the rape of his mother, sister, and himself by escaped convicts, and the subsequent murder and burial of the attackers. This "death" of the secret represents the collapse of all his defenses and the family's mythology., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 106 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Tom realizes he must return to his family and real life, taking the emotional growth with him. He understands that Susan was his teacher, not his future, and that he must apply what he's learned to save his own marriage and relationship with his children., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Prince of Tides'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 The Prince of Tides against these established plot points, we can identify how Barbra Streisand utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Prince of Tides within the drama genre.
Barbra Streisand's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Barbra Streisand films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.5, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Prince of Tides takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Barbra Streisand filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Barbra Streisand analyses, see The Mirror Has Two Faces, Yentl.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tom Wingo narrates poetic memories of his Southern childhood, establishing his role as storyteller and his deep connection to the South Carolina Lowcountry, though hints of darkness lurk beneath the beauty.
Theme
Tom's mother Lila speaks about the importance of hiding family secrets and maintaining appearances, establishing the theme: confronting buried trauma is necessary for healing and authentic living.
Worldbuilding
Tom's dissatisfied life in South Carolina is revealed: unemployed teacher, failing marriage, emotionally distant from his wife and daughters. We learn his twin sister Savannah is a troubled poet in New York. Flashbacks show their traumatic childhood with an abusive father.
Disruption
Tom receives an urgent call that Savannah has attempted suicide in New York. Her psychiatrist Dr. Susan Lowenstein requests his help, forcing Tom to leave his comfortable avoidance and confront his family's past.
Resistance
Tom reluctantly travels to New York and meets Dr. Lowenstein. He resists opening up, using humor and Southern charm as defense mechanisms. He debates whether to truly help or just go through the motions.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tom commits to working with Dr. Lowenstein to explore his and Savannah's shared childhood memories. He actively chooses to stay in New York and begin the painful process of excavating family secrets.
Mirror World
Tom begins therapy sessions with Susan, and their relationship deepens beyond professional boundaries. Susan represents emotional honesty and vulnerability, the opposite of Tom's avoidance. She becomes his guide to authentic feeling.
Premise
Tom opens up about his past through therapy sessions, helps coach Susan's son in football, and begins an affair with Susan. He experiences the promise of emotional liberation and genuine connection while uncovering layers of family trauma through stories.
Midpoint
Tom and Susan fully consummate their relationship, and Tom experiences a false victory: he believes love and therapy are healing him, but he hasn't yet confronted the deepest trauma. Stakes rise as his marriage and Susan's relationship are now at risk.
Opposition
Tom's defenses return as he gets closer to the core trauma. His mother arrives and resists his truth-telling. Susan's husband returns, complicating their affair. Tom must face that his avoidance patterns are reasserting themselves even as he believes he's changing.
Collapse
Tom finally reveals the most devastating secret: the rape of his mother, sister, and himself by escaped convicts, and the subsequent murder and burial of the attackers. This "death" of the secret represents the collapse of all his defenses and the family's mythology.
Crisis
Tom processes the emotional weight of revealing the secret. He must sit with the pain rather than flee. Susan helps him understand that speaking the truth, though devastating, is the only path to healing for him and Savannah.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tom realizes he must return to his family and real life, taking the emotional growth with him. He understands that Susan was his teacher, not his future, and that he must apply what he's learned to save his own marriage and relationship with his children.
Synthesis
Tom says goodbye to Susan, acknowledging their love but choosing his family. He returns to South Carolina with new emotional honesty. Savannah awakens from her crisis, healed by the revealed truth. Tom reconciles with his wife, bringing his authentic self to the relationship.
Transformation
Tom narrates again about the Lowcountry, but now with integrated wisdom. He thanks Susan in voiceover for saving his life and teaching him to live authentically. The closing image shows him emotionally present with his family, transformed from the numb man we met.