Films, like 'Charly', had well-structured screenplays, something newer films lack...

Some years ago, as I walked out of a JFK transit bus, I saw Cliff Robertson.  I recognized him as a famous actor and didn't think much more of it.  

Years later, I was watching 'Gidget', a 1960s beach movie.  After doing some research, I learned that Cliff Robertson had been in this and many other films from the Classic Hollywood period.  He would be the 'not-so-famous' leading man, playing alongside more popular stars.

In the film 'Charly', he plays a mentally challenged man who is bullied by his peers, until he participates in a research project.  The drug he takes in the experiment turns him into a very smart person, someone who can understand complex ideas and solve any problem.  He even wins the affection of his female researcher.  In the end, the very smart man reverts to his former self when the drug stops working.  The actor was awarded an Oscar for his role.  

Cliff Robertson was also in the film 'Interns', where he plays a doctor, interning at a hospital, running into unexpected challenges with his patients and his personal life.  The movie was apparently the trend-setter for the numerous ‘doctor’ shows that would later air.  What both these films and hundreds of others have in common is a clear 'logline' that follows a well-structured screenplay. 

Good examples are Alfred Hitchcock films.  After taking a course in screenplay writing, I analyzed several of them, Vertigo, Rope, and Rear Window, as well as Clint Eastwood’s ‘Gran Torino.’

Blake Snyder writes in the book, 'Save the Cat', "after coming up with the idea, structure is the single most important concept in screenplay writing.  Having a well-structured screenplay shows that the writers have done the work in making the blueprint that is solid and sound."  This is called a Beat Sheet.  Blake Snyder divides a screenplay into 15 beats.

And what about the logline?  The logline is a one to two-sentence summary of the screenplay.  It should show the main character’s conflict and options to change his situation.  It should also contain irony.  All the movie scenes should follow the logline.

The film, 'Gran Torino' opens with Clint standing in front of his wife's casket (the opening image) and the pastor's sermon on what life is and what death is. (Theme stated).

When Clint goes back home and kicks around the furniture, and the pastor walks in and they have a talk, this is the 'Dark Knight of the Soul' section.  Clint offers the pastor a beer and asks him to call him 'Wally'.  A connection is made between Clint and the pastor.  Clint confesses his sins to the pastor. In the 'Break into three' section, Clint walks out of the church, and the pastor suspects he is planning something.  Clint tells the pastor, 'I am at peace!' and leaves the church.

In the finale section, Toad walks into Clint's House.  Clint is cleaning his gun.  Clint takes Toad into his basement and gives him his silver star medal.  Clint locks Toad in the basement and drives to the Viet gang’s house.  He pulls out a cigarette lighter (he makes it appear like he is pulling out a gun).  The gang shoots him dead, as the witnesses look on.

In the final image, Toad drives the Gran Torino (Clint's car) by the ocean.  Clint's dog sits on the passenger seat, and a voiceover of Clint singing is heard in the background.

As a viewer, watching a film with a clear logline and structured screenplay is most enjoyable.  I can recognize a badly written screenplay within minutes of watching a film.  

~N.Acharya