Character Relationship Map: Boeing, Boeing

Characters

• Robert Reed (played by Jerry Lewis) — protagonist

  A fellow journalist and old acquaintance who arrives in Paris needing accommodation. After discovering Bernard's complex dating system, he schemes to usurp Bernard's apartment, girlfriends, and housek...

• Bernard Lawrence (played by Tony Curtis) — protagonist

  An American journalist and playboy stationed in Paris who meticulously coordinates his relationships with three flight attendants using non-overlapping airline schedules. His carefully managed life is...

• Bertha (played by Thelma Ritter) — supporting

  Bernard's long-suffering housekeeper who plays a crucial role in maintaining his elaborate deception. She discreetly swaps photographs and meals in and out of the apartment to match each arriving flig...

• Lise Bruner / Lufthansa (played by Christiane Schmidtmer) — supporting

  One of Bernard's three flight attendants who flies for Lufthansa. She acts as the inbound girlfriend Bernard picks up at the airport after dropping off another, and her altered schedule disrupts his c...

• Jacqueline Grieux / Air France (played by Dany Saval) — supporting

  One of Bernard's three flight attendants working for Air France. She typically remains in Paris during Bernard's airport trips, but new jet routes cause her schedule to overlap with the other two wome...

• Vicky Hawkins / British United (played by Suzanna Leigh) — supporting

  One of Bernard's three flight attendants who flies for British United Airways. She serves as the outgoing girlfriend Bernard drops off at the airport, and her schedule shift contributes to the simulta...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Bernard Lawrence → Vicky Hawkins / British United (Romantic Boyfriend And Girlfriend) — Bernard coordinates his relationship with Vicky around her British United schedule, which shifts and contributes to the girlfriends' simultaneous presence in Paris.

  Vicky is identified as one of Bernard's three flight-attendant girlfriends. Bernard drops her off for her outgoing flight before picking up Lise.

• Bernard Lawrence → Jacqueline Grieux / Air France (Romantic Boyfriend And Girlfriend) — Bernard relies on Jacqueline's schedule staying separate from the other women's; the new routes make her Paris stay overlap with theirs.

  Jacqueline is identified as one of Bernard's three flight-attendant girlfriends, and the reference says she is typically in Paris while Bernard makes...

• Bernard Lawrence → Lise Bruner / Lufthansa (Romantic Boyfriend And Girlfriend) — Bernard's relationship with Lise is managed through her Lufthansa flight schedule, which changes when new aircraft alter the routes.

  Lise is identified as one of Bernard's three flight-attendant girlfriends. Bernard picks her up at the airport as his inbound Lufthansa girlfriend.

• Bernard Lawrence → Bertha (Professional Employer And Housekeeper) — Bertha supports Bernard's elaborate schedule and helps conceal the other girlfriends from each woman.

  Bertha is identified as Bernard's long-suffering housekeeper and helps maintain his deception by changing the apartment's photographs and food to suit...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jacqueline Grieux / Air France → Vicky Hawkins / British United (Conflict Unwitting Romantic Rivals) — The schedule changes threaten the separation Bernard has maintained between Jacqueline and Vicky.

  Bernard's arrangement keeps his three girlfriends unaware of each other, but new jet schedules allow all three to be in Paris simultaneously.

• Lise Bruner / Lufthansa → Vicky Hawkins / British United (Conflict Unwitting Romantic Rivals) — Their formerly staggered airport schedules become vulnerable to overlap after the airlines change routes.

  The reference describes Lise as the inbound girlfriend Bernard picks up after dropping off Vicky, while his system keeps the girlfriends unaware of on...

• Lise Bruner / Lufthansa → Jacqueline Grieux / Air France (Conflict Unwitting Romantic Rivals) — Their schedules overlap because of the new routes, threatening Bernard's concealment of each woman from the others.

  Bernard arranges his relationships so the women do not know about one another. The altered flight schedules bring all three girlfriends to Paris at th...

• Robert Reed → Bertha (Conflict Would-Be Successor) — Robert's plan to usurp Bernard's life puts him in competition for Bertha's service.

  After seeing Bernard's living arrangement, Robert schemes to take over Bernard's housekeeper along with his apartment, girlfriends, and job.

• Robert Reed → Bernard Lawrence (Conflict Old Acquaintances And Rivals) — Robert arrives needing a place to stay, then exploits what he learns about Bernard's life to try to replace him in Paris.

  Robert is described as Bernard's fellow journalist and old acquaintance. After discovering Bernard's arrangement, he schemes to take over Bernard's ap...

Story Analysis

Bernard's carefully coordinated Paris life unravels when new flight schedules and Robert's opportunism threaten his arrangement.

Plot Progression

1. A Carefully Timed Paris Life — Bernard manages relationships with three flight attendants whose schedules do not overlap. Bertha changes the apartment's photographs and food to preserve the deception.
2. The Jet Age Disrupts the Pattern — Bernard considers refusing a promotion to New York. New aircraft alter flight routes and make the three women's Paris schedules overlap.
3. An Unexpected Houseguest — Robert arrives in Paris without a hotel room and insists on staying at Bernard's apartment. His presence adds another complication to Bernard's already disrupted routine.
4. Robert's Opportunistic Scheme — Robert discovers Bernard's arrangement and decides to take over his apartment, girlfriends, housekeeper, and job. He manipulates Bernard toward accepting the New York promotion.