In preparation for watching the new Narnia movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I watched the previous two and analysed their structure according to the Save the Cat! beats. Here is the analysis of the first movie. Prince Caspian will follow soon, followed by Dawn Treader.
Genre: Of the ten genres that Blake Snyder outlines in Save the Cat! I have classified this as a Golden Fleece. The three distinguishing characteristics of the Golden Fleece genre are listed below.
- A ‘road’ – The Pevensie children must trek across the frozen wastes of Narnia. They grow and change as they overcome obstacles on their journey.
- A ‘team’ – The children themselves are a team, and they team up with the fantastical talking beasts and creatures of Narnia.
- A ‘prize’ – The prize they seek is to wrest Narnia from the control of the White Witch and thus take their place as Kings and Queens of Narnia.
Now, on with the beatsheet.
Opening Image: German bombers attack London. Terrified, the Pevensie children flee to their bomb-shelter, where they bicker and argue. Edmund rushes back to try and rescue a picture of his father. This will be about family and war.
Theme Stated: The Pevensie’s are shipped off to a stay with an old retired professor in the country. Susan tells Lucy, “Wars don’t last forever, Lucy. We’ll be home soon.” Yes they will, but not before they are transported to the fantastical land of Narnia, where they will help end a war that has raged for a hundred years. They will also bring peace to the internal bickering and fighting of their family unit.
Set-up: Due to the constant bombing of London, the children are sent to live in the English country-side. We are shown tensions between the two Pevensie boys, Peter and Edmund. We are given a peek at the Professor’s house, and get our first glimpse of the titular wardrobe.
Catalyst: At the 11 minute mark the children engage in a game of hide-n-seek. After a run-in with Edmund, Lucy takes refuge in an ornate old wardrobe. As she backs into a line of fur coats, she is surprised by the branches of a tree, and then the cold touch of snow and the frosty metal of a lamp post. Lucy has entered the magical realm of Narnia.
Debate: At the lamp post, Lucy is surprised to meet a strange creature, a fawn named Mr Tumnus. She debates whether she should go with him to his home. Upon her return from Narnia the other children refuse to believe that she actually went to Narnia – they think it is merely her over-active imagination. Thus, the debate segment is concerned with the questions as to whether her siblings will believe her, and will they also enter Narnia.
Break into Two: Edmund spots Lucy heading into the wardrobe and decides to follow her inside to scare her. He is surprised when he finds a wide expanse of snow-covered land inside the wardrobe. Narnia is real!
B-Story: In Narnia, Edmund falls into the clutches of the Queen Jadis, Narnia’s self-proclaimed sovereign. The White Witch lures Edmund to her side with the promise of Turkish Delight, and power over his siblings. The B-Story is about Edmund’s fall and restoration in both his relationship with his siblings and his actions in Narnia.
Fun and Games: The children’s playing interferes with the Professor and his cranky housekeeper, Mrs Macready. They play cricket outside, where a cracking shot by Edmund smashes a window. Afraid to face up to the consequences of breaking the window, Edmund convinces the others to hide in the wardrobe. They are all transported to Narnia.
Lucy leads them to Mr Tumnus’ house but the Faun is nowhere to be seen. His house has been ransacked by the White Witch’s Secret Police. The children meet a talking beaver who takes them back to his house. In a nod to the B-Story, they are told about Aslan. When Edmund asks who Aslan is, we find out that Aslan is the true ruler of Narnia, and that the White Witch has usurped his rule. Unnoticed by the others, Edmund ducks off.
Edmund makes his way to the White Witch’s Ice Palace. Strange stone statues line the entrance. Jadis is not so friendly this time, particularly as Edmund has arrived without bringing his brother and sisters with him. She sends Maugrim, her vicious head of the Secret Police, to capture the other Pevensies.
Maugrim and his minions attack Beaver’s house, but the occupants have fled down one of Beaver’s tunnels. Another talking animal, Fox, assists their escape effort by misdirecting the wolves.
A prisoner of the White Witch now, Edmund meets a fellow prisoner, Mr Tumnus. Tumnus is horrified to find out that Edmund is responsible for his imprisonment. Edmund realises the gravity of his situation when Jadis turns Mr Tumnus to stone with the aid of her magical weapon.
Mid-point: At the 105 minute mark, the children are chased by a sleigh. Just as they think the White Witch has them trapped, they peek out to discover that the driver of the sleigh is not Jadis, but Father Christmas. This is the False Victory present at the mid-point beat. Jadis’ grip on Narnia is beginning to slip, but there is more to come before true victory is attained. The children are given presents that will help them in the fight.
Bad Guys Close In: Due to the weakening of the Witch’s power, the ice covering the river begins to break up. The children argue about how to cross but the appearance of the wolves forces them to take drastic measures to cross the river.
Edmund’s traitorous ways form the cornerstone of the White Witch’s plan to defeat Aslan and take over Narnia forever. Her forces prepare for war, as do the Narnians. Some of the White Witch’s wolves attack Susan and Lucy, but Peter is able to defeat them with Aslan’s help.
All is Lost: The White Witch meets with Aslan. The whiff of death occurs when she demands Edmund’s blood, as all traitors belong to her. Aslan offers himself to her in place of Edmund. She accepts. Edmund is reunited with his brother and sisters, but at what cost?
Dark Night of the Soul: Lucy and Susan watch in horror as Aslan is executed by the White Witch and her devilish minions. After the creatures of darkness depart, Lucy tries to heal Aslan with one of the gifts that Father Christmas gave her, but Susan recognises the hopelessness of the situation.
Break into Three: Peter prepares to lead the army against the White Witch.
Finale: The centre-piece of the finale is the battle between the Witch’s forces and the Narnians. Aslan is resurrected, due to his more complete understanding of the Deep Magic. Edmund goes back to the fight, this time on the side of right. Edmund breaks the Witch’s magic weapon but is severely injured in the process. Peter fights the Witch, and in conjuction with Aslan, she is defeated. Lucy is able to heal the wounded with her magical cordial.
Closing Image: The family is together, hugging, victorious in battle. They have overcome their feuds and fears and are now a tight-knit family unit. After many years in Narnia they stumble back to the wardrobe and back to England – but they are equipped to face the obstacles that threaten them due to their time in Narnia.