Plot points are linear links that make up the chain of traditional Aristotelian 3-act dramatic structure. This classic structure worked well in Hollywood for almost a century now. Although young movie makers are forcing the limits of this structure, plot points still rule the day as the tent poles that hold up of the circus of our dreams. Here are the plot points of Thieve's Highway (1949), as I see them.

Thieve's Highway (1949)

Starring: Richard Conte, Valentina Cortese, Lee J. Cobb
Directed by: Jules Dassin
Writers: A. I. Bezzerides (Screenplay and Novel)

ESTABLISHING SHOT: A happy warm Fresno in Sonoma Valley. The WW2 veteran Nick Garcos (Richard Conte) returns home after sailing around the world, with exotic gifts for all family members including his blonde fiance.

INCITING INCIDENT: Nick finds out that his produce-truck driver father had been crippled in a trucking accident after delivering tomatoes to San Francisco produce wholesaler Mike Figlia ( Lee J. Cobb) who did not pay the old man either.

PLOT POINT 1: Nick, hauling apples to SF, has an accident while changing his tire but his life is saved by his fellow trucker Ed who is a shifty character who stiffed his father as well.

MID POINT EVENT: Nick, who has not slept for days driving his truck, meets the produce market hooker Rica (Valentina Cortesa) who takes him to her hotel room -- not to make love -- but to sleep.

PLOT POINT 2: Nick confronts Mike Figlia in a bar and punishes him for every pain he inflicted on his fellow immigrant truck drivers.

3rd ACT RESOLUTION: After his blonde middle-class fiance leaves him for lack of money, Nick realizes he loves Rica and they drive off happily into the black-and-white sunset. are caught when their car gets stuck on a sand dune in the middle of a river at the Mexican border.