Character Relationship Map: Boom Town

Characters

• Big John McMasters (played by Clark Gable) — protagonist

  A down-on-his-luck oil wildcatter who joins forces with Square John Sand, survives early failures, and becomes wealthy after striking oil. He marries Betsy Bartlett, later expands into refining and di...

• Square John Sand (played by Spencer Tracy) — supporting

  Big John McMasters's longtime oil partner and closest friend. He helps steal drilling equipment, shares the first successful ventures, and accepts McMasters's marriage to Betsy Bartlett despite loving...

• Betsy Bartlett (played by Claudette Colbert) — supporting

  The woman McMasters marries after winning her affection, despite Sand considering her his girl. She leaves McMasters after catching him dancing with another woman, returns when he faces ruin, and late...

• Harry Compton (played by Lionel Atwill) — supporting

  A former customer and business rival of McMasters during McMasters's expansion into New York refining and distribution. McMasters competes against him and hires away Compton's adviser, Karen Vanmeer,...

• Luther Aldrich (played by Frank Morgan) — supporting

  A skeptical equipment owner whose drilling machinery is stolen by McMasters and Sand when they lack money. After their first well fails, he arrives with the sheriff to reclaim his property. Later, the...

• Karen Vanmeer (played by Hedy Lamarr) — supporting

  An adviser hired away from Harry Compton by McMasters to obtain inside information through her social contacts and personal charm. Her presence fuels suspicion that McMasters is having an affair. Sand...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Harry Compton → Karen Vanmeer (Professional Former Employer And Adviser) — Karen's departure from Compton's advisory position gives McMasters access to her industry knowledge and contacts.

  Karen works as Compton's adviser before McMasters hires her away.

• Big John McMasters → Karen Vanmeer (Professional Employer And Adviser) — Karen's intelligence-gathering role strengthens McMasters's business position while fueling suspicion about their relationship.

  McMasters hires Karen away from Compton's advisory role to obtain inside information through her social contacts and industry access.

• Square John Sand → Luther Aldrich (Professional Debtor And Backer) — Aldrich's equipment and financial backing help Sand and McMasters return to oil prospecting after their fortunes collapse.

  Sand joins McMasters in taking Aldrich's equipment and later helps partially repay him and offer him a share of the next well. Aldrich eventually supp...

• Big John McMasters → Luther Aldrich (Professional Debtor And Backer) — Their relationship moves from theft and attempted recovery to a business arrangement that resumes when the two oilmen begin again.

  McMasters and Sand steal Aldrich's drilling equipment, later partially repay him, and offer him a percentage of their next well to secure his backing....

• Square John Sand → Betsy Bartlett (Romantic Unrequited Love) — Sand's affection for Betsy shapes his loyalty to McMasters and motivates his attempts to protect her.

  Sand considers Betsy his girl, but accepts her marriage to McMasters because he wants her to be happy. Later he tries to protect her marriage and resp...

• Big John McMasters → Betsy Bartlett (Romantic Husband And Wife) — Their marriage is strained by McMasters's behavior and suspected affair with Karen, but Betsy's distress eventually prompts him to reconsider his choices.

  McMasters wins Betsy's affection and marries her. She later leaves him after catching him dancing with another woman, returns when he is in trouble, a...

Story Dynamics

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

• Square John Sand → Karen Vanmeer (Social Marriage Offer Declined) — Karen recognizes that Sand's proposal is intended to help Betsy rather than express a genuine wish to marry her.

  Sand offers to marry Karen in an effort to protect Betsy's marriage, but Karen deduces his motive and declines.

• Big John McMasters → Harry Compton (Conflict Business Rivals) — Their rivalry marks McMasters's move from wildcatting into the wider oil business.

  When McMasters expands into New York refining and distribution, he competes against former customer Compton.

• Big John McMasters → Square John Sand (Alliance Longtime Partners And Friends) — Their partnership repeatedly breaks under romantic and business strain, but they ultimately reunite to start over.

  They join forces as oil wildcatters, share early ventures, and later reconcile after meeting at an oilmen's convention.

Story Analysis

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

Plot Progression

1. 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...
2. 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...
3. 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 oi...
4. 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...