Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
When the Great Northeast Blackout of 1965 hit, millions of people were left in the dark, including Waldo Zane, a New York executive in the process of stealing a fortune from his company; and two people whose paths he's destined to cross: Broadway actress Margaret Garrison and her husband Peter.
The film earned $8.0M 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
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Margaret Garrison is introduced as a glamorous Broadway star taking her curtain call, representing success and the sophisticated New York theatrical world she inhabits.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The great Northeast blackout of 1965 strikes, plunging New York City into darkness and setting into motion a chain of events that will throw everyone's lives into chaos.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Margaret ends up taking shelter with the nervous Waldo in circumstances that will later appear compromising, crossing into a night of misunderstandings that threatens to destroy her marriage., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The lights come back on, revealing Margaret in what appears to be a compromising situation with Waldo. This false defeat transforms a night of innocent misunderstandings into apparent evidence of infidelity., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Margaret's marriage appears destroyed as Peter refuses to believe her explanations. The combination of apparent infidelity and criminal association seems to have irreparably damaged everything she values—her reputation, her marriage, and her happiness., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The truth about what actually happened during the blackout begins to emerge through testimony and evidence. Characters realize that innocent explanations exist for all the compromising appearances., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?'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 Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? against these established plot points, we can identify how Hy Averback utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Margaret Garrison is introduced as a glamorous Broadway star taking her curtain call, representing success and the sophisticated New York theatrical world she inhabits.
Theme
A character remarks on how appearances can be deceiving in relationships, establishing the film's comedic exploration of trust, jealousy, and the gap between what we see and what actually happens.
Worldbuilding
The setup establishes Margaret's Broadway career, her marriage to architect Peter Garrison, their social circle, and introduces the various characters whose lives will intersect during the blackout, including nervous accountant Waldo Zane and his embezzlement scheme.
Disruption
The great Northeast blackout of 1965 strikes, plunging New York City into darkness and setting into motion a chain of events that will throw everyone's lives into chaos.
Resistance
Characters scramble to cope with the sudden darkness. Margaret leaves the theater, Peter is stuck elsewhere, and Waldo panics about his embezzlement being discovered, with various comic encounters happening as people navigate the blackout.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Margaret ends up taking shelter with the nervous Waldo in circumstances that will later appear compromising, crossing into a night of misunderstandings that threatens to destroy her marriage.
Mirror World
Waldo's storyline deepens as we understand his predicament—a timid man who embezzled money and now finds himself in an absurd situation with a famous actress, representing the ordinary person caught up in extraordinary circumstances.
Premise
The promise of the premise delivers comic chaos as characters fumble through the dark night. Mistaken identities, awkward encounters, and absurd situations multiply as the blackout forces unlikely people together in compromising positions.
Midpoint
The lights come back on, revealing Margaret in what appears to be a compromising situation with Waldo. This false defeat transforms a night of innocent misunderstandings into apparent evidence of infidelity.
Opposition
Peter's jealousy and suspicions intensify as circumstantial evidence mounts against Margaret. Waldo's embezzlement is discovered, adding criminal suspicion to the romantic scandal. Everyone assumes the worst, and attempts at explanation only make things look worse.
Collapse
Margaret's marriage appears destroyed as Peter refuses to believe her explanations. The combination of apparent infidelity and criminal association seems to have irreparably damaged everything she values—her reputation, her marriage, and her happiness.
Crisis
The characters wallow in the aftermath of the scandal. Margaret faces the potential end of her marriage, Waldo confronts his crimes, and everyone involved grapples with the seemingly insurmountable mess created by one dark night.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The truth about what actually happened during the blackout begins to emerge through testimony and evidence. Characters realize that innocent explanations exist for all the compromising appearances.
Synthesis
The finale brings comic resolution as the true sequence of events is revealed. Misunderstandings are cleared up, Waldo's situation is addressed, Peter's jealousy is shown to be unfounded, and relationships are mended through the revelation of truth.
Transformation
Margaret and Peter reconcile, their marriage strengthened by having weathered the storm of suspicion. The closing image mirrors the opening but now shows a couple who have learned to trust each other beyond mere appearances.