Thomas Crown Affair: When Having it All Isn’t Enough

This is a series of film reviews for authors to study plot structure. While there are many excellent books about structure and craft, these reviews show how structure works in film or television.

"The Thomas Crown Affair," released in 1968, is an iconic heist film directed by Norman Jewison, and it’s currently running on Amazon Prime and Netflix. The film features the cat-and-mouse games between millionaire Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen) and Vicki Anderson (Faye Dunaway), a sultry insurance investigator.

Thomas Crown is a charismatic, enigmatic businessman who orchestrates a bank robbery, not out of financial need but for the thrill. The film is rare; it begins as a bank heist but becomes a character study and moral dilemma. If authors want to learn how to create emotionally complex characters, this film is worth a watch.

Inciting Incident

The robbery is the inciting incident, and the heist is set off by a series of flashbacks, with the action shown in puzzle boxes as if to reflect Crown’s mind. He needs the stimulation because he’s bored. But we don’t know his identity until after the heist; he’s that much of an enigma. His nature isn’t told to the audience; it’s shown in action shots. The opening is tricky, puzzling, and engaging.

First Point of No Return

The emotional intensity ramps up when Vicki Anderson, a savvy, sexy insurance investigator, arrives; her introduction is the first point of no return. Their initial encounter introduces the central conflict and the film's main tension, the battle of wits between them. His character is portrayed with a cool detachment, making every move with precision and foresight, which sets the tone for the entire film. Crown's plan was flawless until she arrived. Indeed, Vicky’s name, short for Victoria, or victory, implies she will win this game.

Vicki represents the law but also embodies an exploration of attraction and intellectual competition. Anderson's investigation is intertwined with her fascination with Crown, blurring the lines between professional and personal motives.

Fun and Games

The interaction between Crown and Anderson is the crux of the film's middle act, characterized by a series of strategic and playful encounters. Their relationship evolves from adversarial to mutual respect and attraction, highlighted by the famous chess game scene metaphorically representing their battle of wits.

The film is rich in visual storytelling, with sparse dialogue and scenes that amplify the chemistry between McQueen and Dunaway. The plot thickens as the investigation brings her closer to Crown, yet her growing affection complicates the mission. Vicky’s dilemma is apparent. Again, it’s shown as much as told.

Second Point of No Return & Climax

As the film moves toward resolution, the story focuses on both characters' emotional and moral dilemmas. The climax is less about the heist and more about the confrontation between Crown and Anderson—will he win and remain free? Or will she convince him to confess? Here the film delves into themes of identity, freedom, and the consequences of actions. She wants him to turn himself in, which is the second point of no return. He has other ideas, however.

Split-screen techniques, which were rare then, illustrate the thoughts and actions of the characters, boosting the pace and enhancing urgency and complexity. The resolution is surprising yet fitting. It acknowledges the internal changes in Crown and Anderson. Still, it challenges the classic heist film's conventions by not providing a clear moral victory.

For authors seeking a quick course in structure, concise storytelling, and tension, sit down with a cold drink and popcorn and enjoy!

"The Thomas Crown Affair" is an action film, but more so a character study in a narrative of crime and seduction. McQueen's character is fascinating. If authors want to study a character who has everything but chooses crime, watch the film. The lasting impact of "The Thomas Crown Affair" lies in its ability to blend genre elements with a profound look at human nature, making it a timeless piece of cinema. From character to structure to ground-breaking graphics and camera work, it's a classic.

Notes:

Song: The original version of “The Windmills of Your Mind,” was used in the film, sung by Noel Harrison, and it was nominated for an Academy Award in 1969.

Remake: A remake of the film starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo was released in 1999.

T.K. Sheffield writes books to laugh and escape. The award-winning Backyard Model Mysteries are “The Devil Wears Prada” meets a Wisconsin supper club. She is releasing a new suspense novel “Plot Twist” in the fall of 2025.