Boom Town (1940) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Two oilmen repeatedly gain and lose fortunes, while friendship, rivalry, and romantic strain reshape their partnership.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Risky First Strike

McMasters and Sand join forces, take Aldrich's equipment, and fail at their first well. Aldrich's arrival with the sheriff forces them to leave, but they later repay him in part and secure his backing for another attempt.

Key Events

• Wildcatters Join Forces — Two down-on-their-luck wildcatters join forces to seek oil. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand Location: Oil fields
• Equipment Is Stolen — Short of money, the partners take drilling equipment from skeptical Aldrich. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand, Luther Aldrich Location: Aldrich's equipment site
• First Well Fails — Their first well proves unsuccessful. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand Location: First drilling site
• Aldrich Seeks His Property — Aldrich arrives with the sheriff to reclaim his equipment, forcing the partners to leave. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand, Luther Aldrich Location: First drilling site
• A New Oil Venture — After earning money, the partners partially repay Aldrich and offer him a percentage. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand, Luther Aldrich Location: Oil fields

Oil, Marriage, and Rupture

The partners strike oil, and McMasters marries Betsy despite Sand's feelings for her. After Betsy catches McMasters dancing with another woman, the partners quarrel and gamble over the oilfield; Betsy leaves and later returns when McMasters is in need.

Key Events

• The Partners Strike Oil — Their second attempt succeeds and brings them substantial wealth. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand, Luther Aldrich Location: Second drilling site
• Betsy Marries McMasters — McMasters wins Betsy's affection and marries her, despite Sand's feelings for her. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand, Betsy Bartlett Location: Unspecified
• Anniversary Dispute — Betsy catches McMasters dancing with another woman on their anniversary. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand, Betsy Bartlett Location: Unspecified
• Oilfield Coin Toss — After quarreling, the partners flip a coin for the entire oilfield. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand Location: Oil field
• Betsy Returns — Betsy leaves, then returns after learning McMasters has lost nearly everything and needs her. Characters: Big John McMasters, Betsy Bartlett Location: Unspecified

Business Rivalry and Reunion

McMasters expands into New York refining and distribution, competes with Compton, and hires Karen for industry information. Sand loses his South American fortune, then reunites with McMasters at an oilmen's convention and returns to work for him.

Key Events

• McMasters Expands East — Building on renewed success, McMasters enters refining and distribution. Characters: Big John McMasters, Harry Compton Location: New York
• Compton Faces Competition — McMasters competes with former customer Compton in the oil business. Characters: Big John McMasters, Harry Compton Location: New York
• Karen Changes Employers — McMasters hires Compton's adviser Karen to gather industry information. Characters: Big John McMasters, Harry Compton, Karen Vanmeer Location: New York
• Sand Loses His Fortune — A revolution destroys Sand's accumulated South American fortune. Characters: Square John Sand Location: South America
• Partners Reconcile — The former partners meet, reconcile, and Sand returns to work for McMasters. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand Location: Oilmen's convention

A Costly Attempt to Save Betsy

Sand suspects McMasters is involved with Karen and offers to marry her to protect Betsy, but Karen declines. After Betsy's suicide attempt, Sand tries to bankrupt McMasters and fails; McMasters loses his business after government prosecution, and the friends begin again with Aldrich's equipment.

Key Events

• Sand Offers to Marry Karen — Suspecting McMasters and Karen, Sand offers to marry her to protect Betsy's marriage; Karen refuses. Characters: Square John Sand, Karen Vanmeer Location: Unspecified
• Betsy Takes Sleeping Pills — Miserable over the situation, Betsy attempts suicide; Sand resolves to bankrupt McMasters. Characters: Betsy Bartlett, Square John Sand Location: Unspecified
• Sand's Costly Campaign Fails — Sand loses his costly effort against McMasters and goes broke. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand Location: Unspecified
• McMasters Loses His Business — After Sand asks him to give Betsy a divorce, McMasters comes to his senses; government prosecution under the Sherman Antitrust Act costs him his business. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand Location: Unspecified
• The Partners Begin Again — Poor but happier, the partners reunite; Betsy watches as Aldrich supplies equipment. Characters: Big John McMasters, Square John Sand, Betsy Bartlett, Luther Aldrich Location: Oil fields

Story Breakdown

• The First Oil Venture — McMasters and Sand risk everything to drill despite having little money.
  • Stolen Equipment — They take drilling equipment from Aldrich to begin their venture.
  • Failed First Well — Their initial drilling attempt produces no success, and Aldrich arrives to reclaim his property.
• Aldrich's Backing — The partners work toward a second attempt and bring Aldrich into the venture.
  • Partial Repayment — They make enough money to repay Aldrich in part.
  • Second Well Success — They offer Aldrich a percentage, secure his backing, and strike oil.
• Betsy and the Partners — McMasters's marriage to Betsy complicates his friendship with Sand.
  • Marriage to Betsy — McMasters marries Betsy, whom Sand had considered his girl.
  • Anniversary Quarrel — Betsy catches McMasters dancing with another woman, prompting a quarrel between the men.
• The Oilfield Wager — The partners' conflict turns into a high-stakes contest over their oilfield.
  • Coin Toss — McMasters and Sand flip a coin for the entire oilfield.
  • Betsy Returns — Betsy leaves McMasters, then returns when she learns he has lost nearly everything and needs her.
• New York Expansion — McMasters moves into refining and distribution, entering competition with Compton.
  • Compton Rivalry — McMasters competes with his former customer in the oil business.
  • Karen's Recruitment — McMasters hires Compton's adviser to gather industry information.
• Sand's Return — After losing his South American fortune, Sand reconnects with McMasters.
  • Revolutionary Loss — A revolution costs Sand everything he built in South America.
  • Convention Reunion — The former partners reconcile at an oilmen's convention, and Sand goes to work for McMasters.
• Betsy's Crisis — Sand and Karen respond differently to the suspected affair and Betsy's misery.
  • Karen Declines — Sand offers to marry Karen to protect Betsy's marriage, but Karen recognizes his motive and refuses.
  • Sleeping Pills — Betsy attempts suicide, leading Sand to decide that bankrupting McMasters is the way to help her.
• Loss and Renewal — The final reversals leave both partners poor, but their friendship survives.
  • Business Collapse — Sand's campaign fails, and government prosecution under the Sherman Antitrust Act costs McMasters his business.
  • Aldrich Supplies Equipment — McMasters and Sand team up again as Aldrich provides equipment and Betsy looks on.

Directed by

Jack Conway

Key Cast

• Clark Gable — Big John McMasters
• Spencer Tracy — Square John Sand
• Claudette Colbert — Betsy Bartlett
• Hedy Lamarr — Karen Vanmeer
• Frank Morgan — Luther Aldrich