The Way We Were
Opposites attract when, during their college days, Katie Morosky, a politically active Jew, meets Hubbell Gardiner, a feckless WASP. Years later, in the wake of World War II, they meet once again and, despite their obvious differences, attempt to make their love for each other work.
Despite its modest budget of $5.0M, The Way We Were became a massive hit, earning $50.0M worldwide—a remarkable 900% return. The film's compelling narrative resonated with audiences, showing that 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 Way We Were (1973) reveals carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Sydney Pollack's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 58 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes College flashback: Katie Morosky watches golden boy Hubbell Gardiner from afar at a 1930s campus party. She's the passionate political outsider; he's the effortlessly popular WASP. Their worlds don't intersect.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Years later (WWII era), Katie encounters a drunk, passed-out Hubbell in uniform at a nightclub. She takes him home. When he wakes, there's a genuine connection - the disruption that brings these opposite worlds together.. 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 23% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Katie and Hubbell make love and commit to each other despite their differences. Hubbell goes off to war, but they've crossed into a real relationship. Katie chooses to believe love can bridge their ideological gap., moving from reaction to action.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False defeat: Katie becomes pregnant, which should be joyful, but the HUAC hearings and Hollywood blacklist intensify. Katie's political activities and Hubbell's desire to avoid conflict reach a breaking point. Their fundamental incompatibility becomes undeniable. Stakes raised., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 89 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Katie realizes the marriage is over. In a devastating scene, she tells Hubbell she's letting him go. The death of the dream: they cannot change who they fundamentally are, and love isn't enough. Katie will raise their daughter alone., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 96 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 82% of the runtime. Time jump to years later. Katie has fully embraced her identity as an activist. She accepts who she is and who Hubbell is - no longer trying to change reality. The synthesis: she can love him and let him go., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Way We Were'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 Way We Were against these established plot points, we can identify how Sydney Pollack utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Way We Were within the drama genre.
Sydney Pollack's Structural Approach
Among the 13 Sydney Pollack films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Way We Were takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Sydney Pollack filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Sydney Pollack analyses, see Tootsie, Havana and The Interpreter.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
College flashback: Katie Morosky watches golden boy Hubbell Gardiner from afar at a 1930s campus party. She's the passionate political outsider; he's the effortlessly popular WASP. Their worlds don't intersect.
Theme
A professor or character discusses Hubbell's writing, noting he has talent but lacks commitment - foreshadowing the central tension between Katie's passionate convictions and Hubbell's easygoing detachment.
Worldbuilding
College years in the late 1930s. Katie is established as a strident leftist activist, brilliant but socially awkward. Hubbell is the golden boy - handsome, athletic, talented writer, but uncommitted. Katie admires him from a distance. Political tensions rising with WWII approaching.
Disruption
Years later (WWII era), Katie encounters a drunk, passed-out Hubbell in uniform at a nightclub. She takes him home. When he wakes, there's a genuine connection - the disruption that brings these opposite worlds together.
Resistance
Katie and Hubbell begin a tentative relationship during wartime. Both debate whether this can work - she's too intense, he's too uncommitted. Their different worldviews create friction but also attraction. Katie fears being hurt; Hubbell is shipping out.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Katie and Hubbell make love and commit to each other despite their differences. Hubbell goes off to war, but they've crossed into a real relationship. Katie chooses to believe love can bridge their ideological gap.
Mirror World
Post-war Hollywood. Hubbell is now a screenwriter; Katie joins him in California. The Hollywood social world represents everything Katie opposes politically but is Hubbell's natural habitat. Their relationship becomes the lens for examining compromise and conviction.
Premise
The promise of the premise: can this passionate activist and this golden boy make it work? Katie tries to fit into Hubbell's Hollywood world. They marry. Moments of genuine love and connection, but also growing tension as Katie can't suppress her political activism during the Red Scare era.
Midpoint
False defeat: Katie becomes pregnant, which should be joyful, but the HUAC hearings and Hollywood blacklist intensify. Katie's political activities and Hubbell's desire to avoid conflict reach a breaking point. Their fundamental incompatibility becomes undeniable. Stakes raised.
Opposition
The marriage deteriorates. Katie's political passion clashes with Hubbell's need for ease and acceptance. He resents her intensity; she resents his compromises. Hubbell has an affair. The blacklist destroys their social circle. Every attempt to save the marriage fails. Their baby is born into this chaos.
Collapse
Katie realizes the marriage is over. In a devastating scene, she tells Hubbell she's letting him go. The death of the dream: they cannot change who they fundamentally are, and love isn't enough. Katie will raise their daughter alone.
Crisis
Katie processes the loss. She and Hubbell separate. The dark night: both must face that their love story is ending. Katie returns to New York, accepting that her convictions and his nature are incompatible.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Time jump to years later. Katie has fully embraced her identity as an activist. She accepts who she is and who Hubbell is - no longer trying to change reality. The synthesis: she can love him and let him go.
Synthesis
The final encounter outside the Plaza Hotel in New York. Katie, still protesting for causes, runs into Hubbell with his new, conventional wife. Brief, bittersweet conversation. They acknowledge what they were to each other. Katie touches his hair (iconic gesture). They part.
Transformation
Katie walks away, back to her protest, smiling through tears. Mirror to Status Quo: she's still the passionate activist, but now she's complete in herself. She had the love, lost it, and survived. Hubbell remains unchanged. The transformation is Katie's acceptance of their incompatibility.