Character Relationship Map: Fools' Parade

Characters

• Mattie Appleyard (played by James Stewart) — protagonist

  A one-eyed murderer released after forty years who receives a substantial check. He teams up with fellow convicts, uses dynamite to force a banker to cash the check, and ultimately survives a deadly c...

• Cleo (played by Anne Baxter) — supporting

  A struggling prostitute who owns a houseboat and takes in a young girl named Chanty. She trades a suitcase for Chanty's safety, only to accidentally blow herself up with dynamite when attempting to op...

• Lee Cottrill (played by Strother Martin) — supporting

  A bank robber released alongside Appleyard, originally planning to start a grocery store with him. He accompanies Appleyard back to Glory, briefly boards a houseboat, and participates in the group's e...

• Junior Kilfong (played by Morgan Paull) — supporting
• Johnny Jesus (played by Kurt Russell) — supporting

  A young convict released with Appleyard and Cottrill. He shows concern for Chanty, returns to help his friends, and plays a crucial role in the final confrontation by attempting to use dynamite agains...

• Homer Grindstaff (played by David Huddleston) — supporting

  The local banker who conspires with Council to prevent the released convicts from cashing their check. He funds the murder plot, complies under threat of explosives, and is later arrested when the tru...

• Steve Mystic (played by Mike Kellin) — supporting

  One of Council's accomplices hired to help assassinate the released convicts. He accompanies Council to the abandoned house and is subsequently murdered by Council to secure the entire loot for himsel...

• Roy K. Sizemore (played by William Windom) — supporting

  A mining supply salesman accidentally shot by Kilfong during the ambush. He is later killed by Council, who frames Appleyard for his death and takes his dynamite.

Story Dynamics

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

• Mattie Appleyard → Roy K. Sizemore (Narrative Framed Suspect) — Sizemore’s death becomes the basis for a false accusation against Appleyard.

  After Sizemore is wounded and killed, the prison captain places the blame for his death on Appleyard.

• Johnny Jesus → Cleo (Social Rescue Participant) — Johnny’s concern draws him back into Cleo’s dangerous situation.

  Johnny worries about what will happen to the girl aboard Cleo’s houseboat and returns with Appleyard after they initially escape.

• Mattie Appleyard → Cleo (Unknown Transactional Opponents) — Their interaction becomes a coercive exchange involving the suitcase and a hostage.

  At gunpoint, Appleyard gives Cleo a suitcase believed to contain money in exchange for the safety of the girl aboard her houseboat.

• Lee Cottrill → Cleo (Social Temporary Guest) — Their brief social encounter places Cottrill inside the dangerous houseboat situation.

  While waiting at the rendezvous, Cottrill is persuaded to board Cleo’s houseboat for a drink of whiskey.

• Junior Kilfong → Roy K. Sizemore (Conflict Shooter) — Kilfong’s gunfire makes Sizemore an accidental victim of the plot.

  During the ambush, Kilfong shoots mining supply salesman Roy K. Sizemore.

• Junior Kilfong → Steve Mystic (Alliance Accomplice) — They operate as members of the same assassination group.

  Mystic and Kilfong travel together with the prison captain to attack the three released prisoners.

• Mattie Appleyard → Steve Mystic (Conflict Pursuer) — Mystic repeatedly participates in the effort to eliminate Appleyard.

  Mystic accompanies the planned attack on the released prisoners and later tracks them to the abandoned house.

• Mattie Appleyard → Junior Kilfong (Conflict Assassination Target) — Kilfong is part of the armed threat pursuing Appleyard.

  Kilfong travels with the assassination party intended to kill Appleyard, Cottrill, and Johnny Jesus.

• Mattie Appleyard → Homer Grindstaff (Conflict Adversary) — The banker’s conspiracy directly collides with Appleyard’s demand for his money.

  Grindstaff conspires to prevent Appleyard from cashing his check, while Appleyard later threatens to destroy the bank with dynamite unless the check i...

• Lee Cottrill → Johnny Jesus (Alliance Fellow Fugitive) — They cooperate as members of the same fugitive group.

  Cottrill and Johnny are released together with Appleyard and participate in the same attempts to evade the killing plot.

• Mattie Appleyard → Johnny Jesus (Alliance Fellow Fugitive) — Their alliance grows from shared imprisonment and release into coordinated resistance.

  Johnny is released with Appleyard and Cottrill, travels with Appleyard, and helps him escape from the final attack.

• Mattie Appleyard → Lee Cottrill (Alliance Teammate) — They are longstanding partners whose shared business plan develops into a survival alliance.

  Appleyard and Cottrill have long planned to establish and operate an independent grocery store together. Cottrill also accompanies Appleyard during th...

Story Analysis

Former prisoners pursue a promised new life while surviving a conspiracy built around one valuable compensation check.

Plot Progression

1. A Check With Nowhere To Go — Three former prisoners leave the penitentiary with plans for a new life. Appleyard discovers that his valuable check must be cashed back in Glory.
2. The Ambush Behind The Faith — A conspiracy forms around the uncashable check, and an armed group prepares to kill the released men. A conductor’s warning allows them to survive, but another man is killed and Appleyard is framed.
3. Dynamite At Glory Bank — Appleyard returns to Glory carrying explosives and forces the banker to honor the check. The fugitives then separate while trying to arrange another meeting.
4. The Houseboat Disaster — A detour to a houseboat entangles Cottrill and the others in a desperate exchange. A locked suitcase of dynamite destroys the houseboat and eliminates their temporary refuge.
5. The Pursuit Ends — The fugitives escape a pointless train-yard journey and reach an abandoned house. The pursuing group collapses through betrayal, while dynamite ends the final attack and exposes the wider conspiracy.