Character Relationship Map: The Brain

Characters

• Arthur Lespinasse (played by Jean-Paul Belmondo) — protagonist

  Arthur is a prisoner nearing release who escapes four days early to join Anatole in robbing a night train carrying NATO money. He disguises himself as a railwayman, helps open the secure coach, pursue...

• Anatole (played by Bourvil) — protagonist

  Anatole is Arthur's accomplice in the train robbery. Disguised as a railwayman, he helps make a hole in the secure coach and throw the cash bags down the embankment, only to be deceived by Matthews's...

• Colonnel Carol Matthews, aka 'Le Cerveau' (played by David Niven) — supporting

  Matthews, nicknamed 'The Brain', is the mastermind behind the earlier Great Train Robbery and the planned repeat operation. He secretly plants the gas and explosives, uses a gang disguised as firemen...

• Frankie Scannapieco, godfather of the Italian mafia (played by Eli Wallach) — supporting

  Frankie is a Sicilian mafioso who agrees to launder Matthews's stolen money for a percentage, then decides to take the entire sum instead. He leads disguised mafiosi who intercept the cash, reclaim it...

• Sofia Scannapieco, Frankie's sister (played by Silvia Monti) — supporting

  Sofia is Frankie's sister and becomes attracted to Matthews during his visit to the Sicilian villa. Her interest angers Frankie, who sees it as an insult to his honour. During the escape from Le Havre...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Sofia Scannapieco, Frankie's sister → Colonnel Carol Matthews, aka 'Le Cerveau' (Romantic Attracted To) — Sofia's attraction to Matthews motivates her to help him.

  During Matthews's visit to Frankie's villa, Sofia becomes attracted to him and resolves to give him her virginity. Later, she frees Matthews during th...

• Sofia Scannapieco, Frankie's sister → Frankie Scannapieco, godfather of the Italian mafia (Family Sister) — Siblings whose conflict over Sofia's interest in Matthews becomes an obstacle for Frankie.

  The plot identifies Sofia as Frankie's sister. During the pursuit, Sofia frees Matthews and locks Frankie in a cabin trunk.

• Colonnel Carol Matthews, aka 'Le Cerveau' → Frankie Scannapieco, godfather of the Italian mafia (Professional Business Associates) — A proposed money-laundering arrangement turns into a contest over the cash.

  Matthews recruits Frankie to launder the stolen money for a percentage. Frankie later decides to take the entire sum instead.

Story Dynamics

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

• Frankie Scannapieco, godfather of the Italian mafia → Anatole (Conflict Rival) — Frankie's attempt to take the money places him against Anatole and Arthur.

  Frankie's gang intercepts the cash after Anatole and Arthur's train robbery, and Anatole joins Arthur in the subsequent chase to Le Havre.

• Frankie Scannapieco, godfather of the Italian mafia → Arthur Lespinasse (Conflict Rival) — Frankie and Arthur are opposing claimants in the pursuit of the stolen money.

  Frankie's disguised gang takes the money from Matthews's firemen, while Arthur and Anatole later give chase and Arthur climbs into the Statue of Liber...

• Colonnel Carol Matthews, aka 'Le Cerveau' → Anatole (Conflict Rival) — Matthews's operation defeats Anatole and Arthur's train robbery.

  Matthews's gas-and-explosives plan enables his disguised firemen to take the money that Anatole and Arthur throw from the train. Anatole later joins A...

• Colonnel Carol Matthews, aka 'Le Cerveau' → Arthur Lespinasse (Conflict Rival) — Matthews repeatedly outmaneuvers Arthur over the stolen money, though he later shares his next scheme with him.

  Matthews's secretly planted gas and explosives ensure that his team takes the cash Arthur and Anatole throw from the train. Arthur later chases the st...

• Arthur Lespinasse → Anatole (Alliance Accomplice) — Partners in the attempted train robbery and subsequent pursuit.

  Arthur escapes prison to join Anatole in robbing the night train. They carry out the train operation together and later pursue the money together.

Story Analysis

A train robbery becomes a contest among rival criminals for a fortune, ending with a fresh scheme already in prospect.

Plot Progression

1. A Prison Escape and a Deal — Arthur escapes prison and joins Anatole for a night-train robbery. Matthews recruits Frankie to launder the money, but Sofia's attraction to Matthews angers her brother and changes Frankie's intention...
2. The Train Robbery Trap — Arthur and Anatole disguise themselves as railwaymen and breach the secure coach. Matthews's hidden gas and explosives turn their operation into a trap, and his firemen take the cash.
3. The False Police Roadblock — Frankie's men, disguised as police, reclaim the money from Matthews's firemen and capture Matthews. Their real plan is to smuggle the cash inside a Statue of Liberty replica.
4. The Pursuit to Le Havre — Arthur and Anatole chase the money in a hijacked DS19 while Sofia drives a BMW, frees Matthews, and confines Frankie in a trunk. The competing groups and the police converge at the docks.
5. A New Scheme at Sea — Arthur climbs into the Statue of Liberty replica as it is loaded aboard the SS France and discovers the cash. The story ends with Matthews revealing a future bullion robbery to Arthur and Anatole.