Tootsie
Michael Dorsey is an unemployed actor with an impossible reputation. In order to find work and fund his friend's play he dresses as a woman, Dorothy Michaels, and lands the part in a daytime drama. Dorsey loses himself in this woman role and essentially becomes Dorothy Michaels, captivating women all around the city and inspiring them to break free from the control of men and become more like Dorsey's initial identity. This newfound role, however, lands Dorsey in a hot spot between a female friend/'lover,' a female co-star he falls in love with, that co-star's father who falls in love with him, and a male co-star who yearns for his affection.
Despite a mid-range budget of $21.0M, Tootsie became a box office phenomenon, earning $177.2M worldwide—a remarkable 744% return.
1 Oscar. 26 wins & 31 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%)
Tootsie (1982) exhibits deliberately positioned plot construction, 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 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Michael Dorsey teaching an acting class, being perfectionist and difficult with students. Establishes him as talented but impossible to work with.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when George definitively tells Michael no one in New York will hire him anymore. His acting career is effectively over unless something drastic changes.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Michael auditions as "Dorothy Michaels" for Southwest General and gets the role, committing to the masquerade that will transform him., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Dorothy becomes a cultural phenomenon and feminist icon, with fan mail and recognition. False victory: Michael is successful but trapped in the lie, falling in love with Julie while unable to be honest about who he is., 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, Julie discovers "Dorothy" in Michael's apartment with Michael and believes Dorothy is having an affair with her boyfriend. Michael loses Julie's trust completely and cannot explain the truth. Everything falls apart., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Michael decides to reveal the truth on live television, synthesizing what he learned as Dorothy (courage, honesty, standing up for himself) with the need to be truthful about who he really is., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Tootsie'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 Tootsie 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 Tootsie within the comedy 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. Tootsie represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Sydney Pollack filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Sydney Pollack analyses, see Havana, The Interpreter and Three Days of the Condor.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Michael Dorsey teaching an acting class, being perfectionist and difficult with students. Establishes him as talented but impossible to work with.
Theme
Michael's agent George tells him "No one will hire you" because he's too difficult to work with. Theme: Michael must change who he is to succeed.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Michael's world: his talent, impossible personality, friendship with roommate Jeff, relationship with actress Sandy, multiple auditions where he's rejected for ridiculous reasons.
Disruption
George definitively tells Michael no one in New York will hire him anymore. His acting career is effectively over unless something drastic changes.
Resistance
Michael debates his options, promises to raise $8,000 for Jeff's play, coaches Sandy for a soap opera audition (which she loses for being too short), gets the idea to disguise himself as a woman.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Michael auditions as "Dorothy Michaels" for Southwest General and gets the role, committing to the masquerade that will transform him.
Mirror World
As Dorothy, Michael meets Julie Nichols on set. She becomes the relationship that will teach him empathy and what women truly experience.
Premise
The fun of the premise: Michael navigating life as Dorothy, learning makeup and mannerisms, dealing with director Ron's harassment, standing up for himself/herself, becoming friends with Julie, and becoming a breakout star on the show.
Midpoint
Dorothy becomes a cultural phenomenon and feminist icon, with fan mail and recognition. False victory: Michael is successful but trapped in the lie, falling in love with Julie while unable to be honest about who he is.
Opposition
Complications mount: Julie's father Les proposes marriage to Dorothy, Sandy suspects Michael is having an affair, the show extends Dorothy's contract, Michael can't reveal himself without destroying everyone, his lies spiral out of control.
Collapse
Julie discovers "Dorothy" in Michael's apartment with Michael and believes Dorothy is having an affair with her boyfriend. Michael loses Julie's trust completely and cannot explain the truth. Everything falls apart.
Crisis
Michael wrestles with the impossible situation he's created. He must reveal the truth but knows it will hurt everyone he cares about - Sandy, Julie, Les, Jeff, the show. Dark night of the soul.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Michael decides to reveal the truth on live television, synthesizing what he learned as Dorothy (courage, honesty, standing up for himself) with the need to be truthful about who he really is.
Synthesis
Michael reveals himself as Dorothy on live TV during the hospital scene, faces the fallout with the cast and crew, loses the job but gains his integrity and the lessons he learned.
Transformation
Michael meets Julie on the street weeks later, apologizes sincerely, tells her "I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man." She cautiously agrees to coffee - he has genuinely changed.