Character Relationship Map: Alias Jesse James

Characters

• Milford Farnsworth (played by Bob Hope) — protagonist

  Milford Farnsworth is a bumbling insurance agent who unknowingly sells a life insurance policy to Jesse James. Sent west to protect the company's investment, he survives repeated attempts on his life,...

• Cora Lee Collins (played by Rhonda Fleming) — supporting

  Cora Lee Collins is Jesse James's intended bride and the supposed beneficiary of a $100,000 insurance scheme. Although she is initially connected to James's plan to collect the policy, she falls in lo...

• Jesse James (played by Wendell Corey) — supporting

  Jesse James is the outlaw who buys a $100,000 life insurance policy from Milford Farnsworth. He plans to have Farnsworth killed while disguised as James, allowing James and his intended widow, Cora Le...

• James Gang Member (played by Glenn Strange) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Milford Farnsworth → Cora Lee Collins (Romantic Lovers Turned Spouses) — Their relationship grows from falling in love amid the danger to escaping together and becoming spouses.

  Milford and Cora Lee fall in love, flee together during the final conflict, and marry at the end.

• Jesse James → Cora Lee Collins (Romantic Intended Spouses In An Insurance Scheme) — Their planned marriage is tied to Jesse's scheme to collect the insurance payout.

  Jesse plans to marry Cora Lee, whom the plot describes as his intended bride, and collect the policy with her after Milford is killed.

• Milford Farnsworth → Jesse James (Professional Insurance Agent And Insured) — Their insurance arrangement becomes dangerous when Jesse schemes to have Milford killed while dressed as the outlaw.

  Milford unknowingly sells Jesse a $100,000 life insurance policy. The company then sends Milford west to protect its investment in Jesse.

Story Dynamics

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

• Cora Lee Collins → James Gang Member (Conflict Opponents In The Final Gun Battle) — The gang obstructs Cora Lee and Milford's escape during the final conflict. The character list uses this same name for multiple listed performers, so the evidence supports the group conflict, not an i...

  The James Gang confronts Cora Lee and Milford in a gun battle after they try to escape.

• Milford Farnsworth → James Gang Member (Conflict Opponents In The Final Gun Battle) — Members of the gang oppose Milford during the couple's escape. The character list uses this same name for multiple listed performers, so the evidence supports the group conflict, not an individual mem...

  The James Gang confronts Milford and Cora Lee in a gun battle after they try to escape.

Story Analysis

A bumbling insurance agent survives a fraud scheme, falls in love with the intended bride, and turns danger into an unexpected new life.

Plot Progression

1. A Policy with a Hidden Cost — Milford unknowingly sells Jesse a $100,000 life insurance policy. Sent west to protect the company's investment, Milford becomes the target of Jesse's plan to collect the money.
2. Survival and Unexpected Love — Milford survives repeated attempts on his life. As the danger continues, he and Cora Lee fall in love, complicating her connection to Jesse's plan.
3. A Disguise and an Escape — After the last attempt on his life, Milford impersonates the Justice of the Peace who is supposed to marry Jesse and Cora Lee. Milford and Cora Lee then try to escape together.
4. The Gang's Final Challenge — The James Gang confronts Milford and Cora Lee, bringing about a gun battle. Several Western heroes secretly help Milford during the conflict.
5. Marriage and an Insurance Joke — Milford is celebrated as a hero, marries Cora Lee, and becomes president of the insurance company. The closing gag shows their six children and undercuts his promise to insure every contingency.