Who's Minding the Store?
Barbara is a very rich girl who falls in love with Norman Phiffier, a poor young man. She doesn't tell him who she really is and prepares to marry him. But, Mrs. Tuttle (Barbara's mother) doesn't want her daughter to mary such a poor man. So, she hires Norman at one of her big stores, and gives him the most difficult and disgusting works. She hopes that seeing Norman humiliated, Barbara will finally leave him. But things don't work exactly this way...
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%)
Who's Minding the Store? (1963) exhibits strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Frank Tashlin's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 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 Norman Phiffier is a clumsy, well-meaning dog trainer living a simple life, demonstrating his pet training skills with various animals. He's content but directionless, working odd jobs without ambition.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Mrs. Tuttle confronts Norman and forbids him from seeing Barbara, declaring him unworthy. She schemes to prove Norman is incompetent and drive him away from her daughter permanently.. 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 Collapse moment at 67 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Norman causes a catastrophic disaster in the store (massive destruction involving multiple departments), and Mrs. Tuttle fires him publicly. Barbara witnesses the humiliation, and Norman believes he's lost both the job and Barbara's love. His dream of proving himself dies., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Norman confronts Mrs. Tuttle using his authentic self - his dog training skills and genuine nature. A climactic sequence where Norman turns the tables, possibly using his animal training expertise in a grand finale that proves his worth in his own unique way. Barbara defies her mother., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Who's Minding the Store?'s emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Who's Minding the Store? against these established plot points, we can identify how Frank Tashlin utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Who's Minding the Store? within the comedy genre.
Frank Tashlin's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Frank Tashlin films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Who's Minding the Store? takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Frank Tashlin filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Frank Tashlin analyses, see Cinderfella, The Disorderly Orderly and The Geisha Boy.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Norman Phiffier is a clumsy, well-meaning dog trainer living a simple life, demonstrating his pet training skills with various animals. He's content but directionless, working odd jobs without ambition.
Theme
Barbara Tuttle suggests that true love means accepting someone for who they are, not trying to change them to fit someone else's expectations - foreshadowing the central conflict between authenticity and social climbing.
Worldbuilding
Establishes Norman's relationship with wealthy Barbara Tuttle, whom he loves. Her mother, Phoebe Tuttle, owns a prestigious department store and disapproves of Norman as unsuitable for her daughter. The class divide and mother's controlling nature are established.
Disruption
Mrs. Tuttle confronts Norman and forbids him from seeing Barbara, declaring him unworthy. She schemes to prove Norman is incompetent and drive him away from her daughter permanently.
Resistance
Barbara convinces Norman to take a job at her mother's department store to prove himself worthy. Norman hesitates, knowing he's clumsy and unsuited for retail. Barbara encourages him, believing in him despite his protests.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The "promise of the premise" - Norman creates havoc in every department: destroying merchandise in home furnishings, causing chaos with vacuum cleaners, wreaking havoc in the toy department, creating disasters in sporting goods. Each assignment from Mrs. Tuttle (designed to humiliate him) backfires spectacularly with physical comedy.
Opposition
Mrs. Tuttle escalates her sabotage, assigning Norman to increasingly impossible tasks. She manipulates situations to make him look foolish and frames him for costly damages. The pressure intensifies as she threatens his job and his relationship with Barbara.
Collapse
Norman causes a catastrophic disaster in the store (massive destruction involving multiple departments), and Mrs. Tuttle fires him publicly. Barbara witnesses the humiliation, and Norman believes he's lost both the job and Barbara's love. His dream of proving himself dies.
Crisis
Norman retreats in despair, questioning whether he should keep trying to be someone he's not. He reflects on whether Barbara could ever truly love someone like him, or if her mother is right about their incompatibility.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Norman confronts Mrs. Tuttle using his authentic self - his dog training skills and genuine nature. A climactic sequence where Norman turns the tables, possibly using his animal training expertise in a grand finale that proves his worth in his own unique way. Barbara defies her mother.