War and Peace
By 1812, Napoleon's (Herbert Lom's) forces controlled much of Europe. Russia, one of the few countries still unconquered, prepares to face Napoleon's troops together with Austria. Amongst the Russian soldiers, are Count Nikolai Rostov (Jeremy Brett) and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (Mel Ferrer). Count Pierre Bezukhov (Henry Fonda), a friend of Andrei's, and self-styled intellectual, who is not interested in fighting. Pierre's life changes when his father dies, leaving him a vast inheritance. He is attracted to Natasha Rostov (Audrey Hepburn), Nikolai's sister, but she is too young, so he gives in to baser desires and marries the shallow, manipulative Princess Helene (Anita Ekberg). The marriage ends when Pierre discovers his wife's true nature. Andrei is captured and later released by the French, and returns home only to watch his wife die in childbirth. A few months later, Pierre and Andrei meet again. Andrei sees Natasha and falls in love, but his father will only permit the marriage if they postpone it for one year until Natasha turns seventeen. While Andrei is away on a military mission, Natasha is drawn to Anatole Kuragin (Vittorio Gassman), a womanizer. Pierre saves Natasha by telling her of Anatole's past before she can elope with him. Napoleon invades Russia. Pierre visits Andrei on the eve of the battle, and observes the battle that follows. Traumatized by the carnage, he vows to kill Napoleon.
Despite its limited budget of $5.0M, War and Peace became a financial success, earning $12.0M worldwide—a 140% return.
Nominated for 3 Oscars. 6 wins & 13 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%)
War and Peace (1956) demonstrates precise narrative design, characteristic of King Vidor's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 3 hours and 28 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 3 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Glittering St. Petersburg ball. Young Natasha Rostova dances joyfully in aristocratic society while Pierre Bezukhov appears melancholic and disconnected despite his wealth and status.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 25 minutes when Prince Andrei decides to leave his family and pregnant wife to join the army against Napoleon, seeking glory and meaning through war. The conflict arrives, disrupting the status quo.. 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 51 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Prince Andrei is severely wounded at the Battle of Austerlitz, lying beneath the infinite sky. He experiences an epiphany about the vanity of ambition and glory. His wife dies in childbirth. He chooses to withdraw from society., moving from reaction to action.
At 105 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Natasha, lonely during Andrei's year-long absence, is seduced by the rake Anatole Kuragin and nearly elopes, destroying her engagement. False defeat: love seems lost, and Natasha's innocence is shattered., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 155 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Prince Andrei is mortally wounded at the Battle of Borodino. Natasha finds him dying in a field hospital. The whiff of death: Andrei literally faces mortality, and all hope for their reconciliation seems lost., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 165 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Andrei forgives Natasha before dying, experiencing spiritual peace. Pierre, witnessing simple soldier Platon Karataev's acceptance of life, synthesizes Eastern philosophy with Christian love: meaning comes from acceptance and compassion, not ambition., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
War and Peace's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping War and Peace against these established plot points, we can identify how King Vidor utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish War and Peace within the drama genre.
King Vidor's Structural Approach
Among the 4 King Vidor films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. War and Peace represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete King Vidor filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more King Vidor analyses, see Solomon and Sheba, Duel in the Sun and The Big Parade.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Glittering St. Petersburg ball. Young Natasha Rostova dances joyfully in aristocratic society while Pierre Bezukhov appears melancholic and disconnected despite his wealth and status.
Theme
Prince Andrei tells Pierre: "We are all seeking something to give meaning to our lives." The central question of finding purpose amid war, love, and death is stated.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of pre-war Russian society: the Rostov family's warmth versus Pierre's empty inheritance, Prince Andrei's disillusionment with his pregnant wife, Napoleon's approaching threat, and the interconnected aristocratic world.
Disruption
Prince Andrei decides to leave his family and pregnant wife to join the army against Napoleon, seeking glory and meaning through war. The conflict arrives, disrupting the status quo.
Resistance
Pierre wrestles with his purposeless existence and unhappy marriage to Helene. Andrei experiences the brutal reality of war at Austerlitz. Both men debate the meaning of honor, duty, and what makes life worth living.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Prince Andrei is severely wounded at the Battle of Austerlitz, lying beneath the infinite sky. He experiences an epiphany about the vanity of ambition and glory. His wife dies in childbirth. He chooses to withdraw from society.
Mirror World
Andrei encounters the grown Natasha Rostova at a ball. Her youthful joy and authenticity represent everything he has lost. She embodies the theme's answer: love and genuine human connection give life meaning.
Premise
The promise of renewal through love. Andrei courts Natasha, rediscovering hope. Pierre's spiritual searching deepens. The aristocratic world continues its dance while Napoleon's threat grows. Romance and hope flourish.
Midpoint
Natasha, lonely during Andrei's year-long absence, is seduced by the rake Anatole Kuragin and nearly elopes, destroying her engagement. False defeat: love seems lost, and Natasha's innocence is shattered.
Opposition
Napoleon invades Russia. Andrei rejects Natasha and returns to war seeking death. Pierre witnesses the execution of French prisoners and Moscow burning. The Rostovs flee. War closes in on everyone. All relationships fragment under pressure.
Collapse
Prince Andrei is mortally wounded at the Battle of Borodino. Natasha finds him dying in a field hospital. The whiff of death: Andrei literally faces mortality, and all hope for their reconciliation seems lost.
Crisis
Natasha nurses the dying Andrei. Both confront their regrets and the meaning of their suffering. Pierre is captured by the French. The dark night of processing loss, mistakes, and searching for redemption before death.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Andrei forgives Natasha before dying, experiencing spiritual peace. Pierre, witnessing simple soldier Platon Karataev's acceptance of life, synthesizes Eastern philosophy with Christian love: meaning comes from acceptance and compassion, not ambition.
Synthesis
Napoleon's army retreats from Russia in winter. Pierre is freed. The French are defeated. Pierre and Natasha, both transformed by suffering and loss, find each other. They embody the synthesis of the theme: love and endurance.
Transformation
Pierre and Natasha, now married, appear with their children. Both have found peace and purpose through love, family, and acceptance. The transformation from the opening: Pierre is no longer melancholic; Natasha's joy is now mature and grounded.