In Hollywood's classic 3-act structure, we see three distinct acts within a film, each with its own rising action and peaks. Edward Scissorhands is just one film that epitomizes this structure.
The first of the acts is the introduction, a less-than-thirty minute section providing audiences with basic information about the characters, setting and plot. It essentially starts the story and sets the stage for the next two acts. In Edward Scissorhands, this first act is composed of Kim (seen as an old woman) setting up the story she is about to tell for her granddaughter, as well as the opening scenes of that story, aka Edward's story, in which Peg Boggs, Kim's mother, seemingly rescues him from his decrepit castle home and brings him to town with her. Kim's storytelling within the movie is forgotten until we see her old self again at the end of the film, but it provides context for the setting and her relationship with Edward. Peg's initial encounters with Edward give us insight into his shy, innocent, and detached nature. Also in the first act, we see Peg's neighbors getting nosy about the Boggs' new visitor. The action peaks when the housewives of the neighborhood barge in on Peg and insist that she hold a barbeque to introduce Edward to the world. The barbeque is held and almost everyone falls in love with Edward.
In the second act, the complication, we do in fact see Edward's time in the neighborhood becoming increasingly complicated. This act runs about 30-60 minutes long (in this case, it is on the longer end) and introduces the plots conflicts. All seems to be going well for Edward as he is now admired for his hedge trimming, as well as his artistry cutting both dogs' and women's hair. He has plans to open his own salon and has become quite the local celebrity. However, not everyone is an accepting fan of Edward. A superstitious neighbor, Esmerelda, pegs him as a product of the devil, and, more importantly, Kim's boyfriend Jim constantly throws insults Edward's way and becomes increasingly jealous of Edward's obvious affection for Kim. Kim resists this affection initially, as well, but she opens up to Edward over the course of their time spent together. Jim remains firm, however, and it is clear that he is out to get Edward. In an effort to steal from his own father at the peak of this act, Jim uses Edward and his unique hands to pick the locks of his own house. During the process, the alarm sets off, Jim and the other teens escape, but Edward is left trapped in the house, unable to open any doors. He is subsequently arrested and the neighborhood begins to turn on him, seeing him as twisted and unstable, seemingly confirming Esmerelda's beliefs.
Finally, the third act, the resolution, wraps up the film. It is less than 30 minutes long and contains the film's climax, an intense fight to the death for some of the characters. While Edward is carving a beautiful ice sculpture during the Boggs' Christmas preparations, Kim comes outside to dance below in the "snow" he has created. It is a peaceful moment until Jim approaches, causing Edward to turn and accidentally cut Kim's hand. Jim is naturally enraged and causes Edward to leave in a fit of frustration, storming through the neighborhood. During this time, he also accidentally cuts Kim's younger brother's face while trying to shove him out of the way of a drunk driver. The whole neighborhood turns on him at this point, with only the Boggses still on his side, and everyone wants to find him. When the police come, Edward flees back to his old mansion home where Kim follows. Jim comes shortly after and attacks Edward who refuses to retaliate until Jim turns on Kim. At this point, a brutal fight, the climax of the film and this act, ensues in which Edward eventually stabs Jim and forces him out of a high window to his death. In an effort to protect Edward, Kim claims to the neighbors that the boys killed each other in the fight and shows them an old scissorhand she finds in the mansion as proof. The story then wraps up with Kim as an old woman telling her granddaughter she believes him to still be alive because it still snows in the neighborhood below the mansion. Following the plot of Edward Scissorhands through its various peaks and valleys shows that it perfectly represents the class 3-act structure of Hollywood film.
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