Irene Vail — History Is Made at Night Character Profile

About Irene Vail

A woman seeking divorce from her wealthy husband Bruce. She becomes entangled with Paul Dumond, falls in love with him, is blackmailed into returning to the U.S., and later rejoins Paul on a doomed ocean liner.

Character Facts

Played by

Jean Arthur

Appears in

History Is Made at Night (1937)

Role

Supporting

Relationships (3)

• Irene Vail — Family Husband — Bruce Vail (Colin Clive)

  Married couple undergoing a bitter divorce proceeding.

• Irene Vail — Romantic Lover — Paul Dumond (Charles Boyer)

  Central romantic pair whose love drives the narrative forward.

• Irene Vail — Conflict Hostage — Private Detective (Lucien Prival)

  Irene is used as leverage against the detective during the standoff.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of History Is Made at Night

More characters from History Is Made at Night

• Paul Dumond (Charles Boyer)
• "The Great Cesare" (Leo Carrillo)
• Bruce Vail (Colin Clive)
• Michael Browsky (Ivan Lebedeff)
• Mr. Norton (George Meeker)
• Private Detective (Lucien Prival)
• French Woman (uncredited) (Adrienne D'Ambricourt)
• Maestro (George Davis)
• Paul - Waiter at Victor's (uncredited) (Bobby Barber)
• S.O.S. Radio Operator (uncredited) (Tim Holt)
• Restaurant Patron (uncredited) (Dennis O'Keefe)
• Insp. Millard (uncredited) (Georges Renavent)