Untamable Angelique
Angelique goes in search of her husband Joffrey de Peyrac who did not die on the stake.
The film earned $29.4M at the global box office.
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%)
Untamable Angelique (1967) demonstrates precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Bernard Borderie's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Angelique is living as a slave in the Mediterranean, having been captured and sold. She maintains her dignity and spirit despite her captivity, establishing her resilient character in dire circumstances.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Angelique is purchased by a powerful man or taken to a harem, representing a new level of loss of autonomy. This transaction strips away any illusion of potential freedom and places her in an even more constrained situation.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Angelique makes the active choice to resist her captors and plot her escape. Rather than accept her fate, she commits to reclaiming her freedom, marking her transformation from passive captive to active protagonist., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: Angelique appears to have secured a path to freedom or gained the favor of someone powerful who might release her. The stakes raise as she believes escape is within reach, but this success will prove illusory or complicated., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Angelique's escape plan is discovered or catastrophically fails. She faces severe punishment, loses her ally, or is placed in an impossible situation. This represents her darkest moment, where freedom seems permanently lost and her spirit is tested to its limit., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Angelique gains crucial information, finds an unexpected ally, or synthesizes her knowledge of both her captors' world and her own inner strength. This realization gives her the key to genuine freedom, combining what she's learned with who she truly is., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Untamable Angelique'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 Untamable Angelique against these established plot points, we can identify how Bernard Borderie utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Untamable Angelique within the adventure genre.
Bernard Borderie's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Bernard Borderie films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Untamable Angelique takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bernard Borderie filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Bernard Borderie analyses, see Angelique, Angelique: The Road To Versailles and Angelique and the King.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Angelique is living as a slave in the Mediterranean, having been captured and sold. She maintains her dignity and spirit despite her captivity, establishing her resilient character in dire circumstances.
Theme
A fellow captive or merchant remarks that "a woman's greatest power is her refusal to be broken," hinting at the central theme of maintaining one's identity and freedom against all attempts at subjugation.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the world of Mediterranean slavery, the slave markets, Angelique's fellow captives, and the harsh realities of her situation. We see the brutal system and the characters who populate this world, including merchants and other slaves.
Disruption
Angelique is purchased by a powerful man or taken to a harem, representing a new level of loss of autonomy. This transaction strips away any illusion of potential freedom and places her in an even more constrained situation.
Resistance
Angelique navigates her new environment, learning the rules of the harem or court. She debates internally whether to submit or resist, meets potential allies, and begins to understand the power dynamics. She resists full capitulation while assessing her options.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Angelique makes the active choice to resist her captors and plot her escape. Rather than accept her fate, she commits to reclaiming her freedom, marking her transformation from passive captive to active protagonist.
Mirror World
Angelique encounters a character who represents freedom or her former life - possibly a fellow European captive, a sympathetic ally, or someone who reminds her of her true identity. This relationship reinforces the thematic question of identity versus subjugation.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - Angelique's adventures as she uses her wit, beauty, and cunning to navigate the dangers of captivity. She manipulates situations, forms alliances, and works toward escape while facing various challenges and adventures in the exotic setting.
Midpoint
False victory: Angelique appears to have secured a path to freedom or gained the favor of someone powerful who might release her. The stakes raise as she believes escape is within reach, but this success will prove illusory or complicated.
Opposition
Forces conspire against Angelique's escape. Her captors become suspicious, rivals work against her, or unforeseen complications arise. The opposition intensifies, and her earlier gains begin to unravel as enemies close in and her situation becomes more dangerous.
Collapse
Angelique's escape plan is discovered or catastrophically fails. She faces severe punishment, loses her ally, or is placed in an impossible situation. This represents her darkest moment, where freedom seems permanently lost and her spirit is tested to its limit.
Crisis
Angelique processes her devastating loss and confronts the possibility of permanent captivity. In this dark night of the soul, she must decide whether to surrender her identity or find new strength to continue fighting despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Angelique gains crucial information, finds an unexpected ally, or synthesizes her knowledge of both her captors' world and her own inner strength. This realization gives her the key to genuine freedom, combining what she's learned with who she truly is.
Synthesis
The finale where Angelique executes her final plan for freedom. She confronts her captors, overcomes the obstacles, and achieves liberation through a combination of courage, intelligence, and the allies she's made. The adventure reaches its climax as she reclaims her autonomy.
Transformation
Angelique stands free, transformed by her ordeal. Unlike the opening where she was a captive struggling to maintain dignity, she now embodies complete autonomy and unbreakable spirit. She has proven herself truly untamable, having conquered external bondage while preserving her essential self.