Gar Evans (played by William Powell) is a protagonist in High Pressure.
Gar is an ambitious promoter who agrees to sell artificial rubber made from sewage after his friend Mike assures him the scheme is legitimate. He builds the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company, hires salespeople, and refuses to flee when the product is exposed as worthless. After Banks offers a settlement, Gar tries to win Francine back, but quickly becomes interested in another promotion. Francine Dale (played by Evelyn Brent) appears in High Pressure.
Francine is Gar Evans's long-suffering girlfriend, but she has lost faith in him after he left her for five days without returning. She reluctantly gives him another chance and joins the venture, then quits when the artificial-rubber scheme collapses and prepares to sail to South America to marry Señor Rodriguez. Gar catches up with her at the dock and persuades her to return. Clifford Gray (played by Guy Kibbee) appears in High Pressure.
Clifford is an old crony of Gar Evans whom Gar installs as president of the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company. His appointment is part of Gar's effort to establish the artificial-rubber business, though the plot provides no further details about Clifford's duties or actions. Helen Wilson (played by Evalyn Knapp) appears in High Pressure.
Helen is hired by Gar Evans as a secretary for the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company. The plot identifies her as part of the company staff, but gives no further account of her actions or her relationships with the other characters. Mr. Banks (played by Charles Middleton) appears in High Pressure.
Banks represents established rubber interests and first offers to buy Gar's company, but Gar rejects the bid as too low. Banks then threatens to seek an injunction against sales of the shares while the scheme is investigated. Later, he offers to reimburse the shareholders and give Gar a profit, hoping to end the affair and restore natural-rubber stock prices. Mike Donahey (played by Frank McHugh) appears in High Pressure.
Mike is Gar Evans's friend and initially assures him that Ginsburg's artificial-rubber product is not a scam, helping persuade Gar to promote it. After the venture is settled and Gar has reconciled with Francine, Mike arrives with a new scheme involving Alaskan gold, marble, and spruce wood, prompting Gar to start planning another campaign. Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer (played by Harry Beresford) appears in High Pressure.
Pfeiffer is the inventor of the artificial-rubber process that Ginsburg has been unable to locate. When Gar finally brings him in to make a sample, scientists discover that the supposed inventor is a deranged crackpot; his next proposed invention involves hens laying pre-decorated Easter eggs. His failure exposes the venture's central deception.
High Pressure (1932) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Gar Evans
(played by William Powell) — protagonist
Gar is an ambitious promoter who agrees to sell artificial rubber made from sewage after his friend Mike assures him the scheme is legitimate. He builds the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company, hire...
Francine Dale
(played by Evelyn Brent) — supporting
Francine is Gar Evans's long-suffering girlfriend, but she has lost faith in him after he left her for five days without returning. She reluctantly gives him another chance and joins the venture, then...
Clifford Gray
(played by Guy Kibbee) — supporting
Clifford is an old crony of Gar Evans whom Gar installs as president of the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company. His appointment is part of Gar's effort to establish the artificial-rubber business,...
Helen Wilson
(played by Evalyn Knapp) — supporting
Helen is hired by Gar Evans as a secretary for the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company. The plot identifies her as part of the company staff, but gives no further account of her actions or her relat...
Mr. Banks
(played by Charles Middleton) — supporting
Banks represents established rubber interests and first offers to buy Gar's company, but Gar rejects the bid as too low. Banks then threatens to seek an injunction against sales of the shares while th...
Mike Donahey
(played by Frank McHugh) — supporting
Mike is Gar Evans's friend and initially assures him that Ginsburg's artificial-rubber product is not a scam, helping persuade Gar to promote it. After the venture is settled and Gar has reconciled wi...
Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer
(played by Harry Beresford) — minor
Pfeiffer is the inventor of the artificial-rubber process that Ginsburg has been unable to locate. When Gar finally brings him in to make a sample, scientists discover that the supposed inventor is a...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Gar Evans → Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer
(Professional Promoter And Inventor)
Gar has Dr. Rudolph Pfeiffer located and set to work making a sample of the artificial rubber process.
Helen Wilson → Clifford Gray
(Professional Coworker)
Helen is hired as secretary while Clifford is installed as president of the same company.
Gar Evans → Helen Wilson
(Professional Employer)
Gar gives Helen Wilson a job as a secretary when he establishes the company office.
Gar Evans → Clifford Gray
(Professional Employer)
Gar incorporates the Golden Gate Artificial Rubber Company and installs Clifford Gray as its president.
Gar Evans → Francine Dale
(Romantic Partner)
Gar believes he can succeed only if his long-suffering girlfriend Francine Dale joins the venture, and he works hard to convince her to give him anoth...
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Gar Evans → Mr. Banks
(Conflict Business Opponent)
Mr. Banks offers to buy Gar's company for established rubber firms, but Gar rejects the bid as too low.
Gar Evans → Mike Donahey
(Social Friend)
Mike Donahey is explicitly described as Gar Evans's friend and assures Gar that the artificial rubber product is not a scam.
Story Analysis
An aggressive promoter builds a speculative company, faces exposure and personal loss, then immediately returns to his habitual cycle of promotion.
