The Wizard of Oz
When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical Land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and on the way they meet a Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. The Wizard asks them to bring him the Wicked Witch of the West's broom to earn his help.
Despite its modest budget of $2.8M, The Wizard of Oz became a runaway success, earning $33.8M worldwide—a remarkable 1116% return. The film's innovative storytelling found its audience, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
2 Oscars. 16 wins & 14 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%)
The Wizard of Oz (1939) exhibits carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Victor Fleming's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 3.0, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Dorothy Gale
Scarecrow
Tin Man
Cowardly Lion
Wicked Witch of the West
Glinda the Good Witch
The Wizard of Oz
Main Cast & Characters
Dorothy Gale
Played by Judy Garland
A young Kansas farm girl who is transported to the magical land of Oz and must find her way home.
Scarecrow
Played by Ray Bolger
A friendly scarecrow seeking a brain who becomes Dorothy's first companion on the Yellow Brick Road.
Tin Man
Played by Jack Haley
A gentle woodsman made of tin seeking a heart to feel emotions again.
Cowardly Lion
Played by Bert Lahr
A fearful lion seeking courage who joins Dorothy's quest to the Emerald City.
Wicked Witch of the West
Played by Margaret Hamilton
A malevolent witch seeking revenge for her sister's death and possession of the ruby slippers.
Glinda the Good Witch
Played by Billie Burke
The benevolent Witch of the North who guides Dorothy on her journey home.
The Wizard of Oz
Played by Frank Morgan
The mysterious ruler of the Emerald City who appears powerful but harbors a secret.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Dorothy runs home on a dusty Kansas farm road in sepia tones, desperate to tell someone about Miss Gulch threatening Toto. The grey, barren landscape establishes her dissatisfaction with her ordinary life.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Miss Gulch arrives with a sheriff's order to take Toto away to be destroyed. Dorothy's world is shattered - the thing she loves most is being taken from her, forcing her to act.. At 11% 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 18 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 18% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to The tornado strikes and Dorothy is knocked unconscious. The house is swept up into the twister - an involuntary threshold crossing that propels her into the fantastical world of Oz. She cannot go back., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Dorothy and friends reach the Emerald City and are granted an audience with the great and powerful Oz. This false victory suggests their wishes will be granted - but the Wizard demands they bring him the Witch's broomstick first., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (64% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Dorothy is trapped in the Witch's castle, watching the sand run out in the hourglass. She sees Aunt Em's image in the crystal ball, crying for her. Dorothy faces the "whiff of death" - she may never see her family again, may die far from home., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 70% of the runtime. Dorothy throws water to save Scarecrow, accidentally melting the Wicked Witch. The external obstacle is destroyed through an instinctive act of love for her friend - demonstrating she already possesses what she sought., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Wizard of Oz'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 Wizard of Oz against these established plot points, we can identify how Victor Fleming utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Wizard of Oz within the adventure genre.
Victor Fleming's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Victor Fleming films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 4.8, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. The Wizard of Oz takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Victor Fleming filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include The Black Stallion, The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots. For more Victor Fleming analyses, see Gone with the Wind.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Dorothy runs home on a dusty Kansas farm road in sepia tones, desperate to tell someone about Miss Gulch threatening Toto. The grey, barren landscape establishes her dissatisfaction with her ordinary life.
Theme
Aunt Em tells Dorothy to "find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble." This plants the thematic seed - Dorothy believes happiness exists "somewhere over the rainbow," but will learn it's been home all along.
Worldbuilding
Kansas farm life is established: Dorothy's longing for escape, her love for Toto, the threat from Miss Gulch, and the busy farmhands who mirror her future companions. "Over the Rainbow" articulates her desire for something beyond her grey existence.
Disruption
Miss Gulch arrives with a sheriff's order to take Toto away to be destroyed. Dorothy's world is shattered - the thing she loves most is being taken from her, forcing her to act.
Resistance
Dorothy runs away from home with Toto after he escapes Miss Gulch. She meets Professor Marvel, who uses his crystal ball to convince her that Aunt Em is heartbroken. Dorothy decides to return home, but the tornado is already approaching.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The tornado strikes and Dorothy is knocked unconscious. The house is swept up into the twister - an involuntary threshold crossing that propels her into the fantastical world of Oz. She cannot go back.
Mirror World
Dorothy meets Glinda the Good Witch and the Munchkins in Technicolor Oz. Glinda introduces the thematic mirror: the ruby slippers contain the power Dorothy needs, but she must discover its meaning herself. The journey to self-knowledge begins.
Premise
Dorothy follows the Yellow Brick Road, gathering companions who each seek external validation: a brain for Scarecrow, a heart for Tin Man, courage for Lion. Together they journey to the Emerald City - the promise of the premise fulfilled through adventure, music, and magical encounters.
Midpoint
Dorothy and friends reach the Emerald City and are granted an audience with the great and powerful Oz. This false victory suggests their wishes will be granted - but the Wizard demands they bring him the Witch's broomstick first.
Opposition
The Wicked Witch intensifies her attacks. Dorothy is captured and imprisoned in the Witch's castle. Her companions must find the courage, intelligence, and heart to rescue her. The hourglass counts down Dorothy's remaining time.
Collapse
Dorothy is trapped in the Witch's castle, watching the sand run out in the hourglass. She sees Aunt Em's image in the crystal ball, crying for her. Dorothy faces the "whiff of death" - she may never see her family again, may die far from home.
Crisis
Her friends infiltrate the castle disguised as Witch's guards. They free Dorothy but are cornered by the Witch and her soldiers. All seems lost as the Witch sets Scarecrow on fire.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Dorothy throws water to save Scarecrow, accidentally melting the Wicked Witch. The external obstacle is destroyed through an instinctive act of love for her friend - demonstrating she already possesses what she sought.
Synthesis
The group returns to Oz, exposes the Wizard as a fraud, yet he grants the companions' wishes through symbols. Dorothy learns from Glinda that the ruby slippers could always take her home - she just had to learn it for herself. "There's no place like home."
Transformation
Dorothy awakens in her sepia Kansas bedroom, surrounded by family and farmhands. Unlike the opening, she now sees her grey world with new eyes, declaring "There's no place like home." The longing is replaced with gratitude and love.