Character Relationship Map: Alimony

Characters

• Katie Klinger (played by Martha Vickers) — protagonist

  Paul Klinger's missing daughter, she changes her name and becomes involved in fraudulent alimony schemes arranged by Burton Crail. Her relationships with Dan Barker are marked by repeated departures a...

• Dan Barker (played by John Beal) — supporting

  A songwriter who knew Katie Klinger in New York, Dan recounts her history to her searching father, Paul. He falls in love with Katie more than once, leaving Linda Waring and later returning to her. Hi...

• Linda Waring (played by Hillary Brooke) — supporting

  Dan Barker's girlfriend when he first meets Katie Klinger, Linda shares a boarding house with them. Dan leaves her for Katie, later returns and marries her, then leaves her again when Katie comes back...

• Burton Crail (played by Douglass Dumbrille) — supporting

  A lawyer who employs Katie Klinger in fraudulent alimony cases, where men are framed to increase settlements. He arranges for George Griswold to be photographed with another woman, but the scheme is e...

• Paul Klinger (played by James Guilfoyle) — supporting

  Paul searches desperately for his missing daughter, Katie, and asks Dan Barker, who knew her in New York, to explain what happened to her. After learning she has been injured in a car crash while out...

• George Griswold (played by Ralph Graves) — supporting

  A millionaire whom Katie Klinger marries while secretly working again for Burton Crail. Crail arranges to photograph Griswold with another woman as part of a settlement scheme, but Griswold outmaneuve...

Canonical Relationships

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

• George Griswold → Katie Klinger (Family Husband And Fraud Target) — Their marriage becomes the setting for Crail and Katie's attempted fraud, which Griswold defeats by sending a double.

  Katie marries millionaire George Griswold while secretly working for Crail, whose scheme targets Griswold for a settlement.

• Burton Crail → Katie Klinger (Professional Criminal Employer And Accomplice) — Crail employs Katie in schemes that frame men to increase settlements, and their criminal partnership ends in arrest.

  Katie works for Crail in fraudulent alimony cases, and both are arrested for fraud after the scheme involving Griswold fails.

• Dan Barker → Linda Waring (Romantic On-and-Off Partners) — Dan repeatedly leaves Linda for Katie and returns to her; Linda takes him back after his relationship with Katie ends.

  Linda is Dan's girlfriend when he meets Katie. Dan later returns to Linda, marries her, leaves her when Katie comes back, and returns again after Kati...

• Dan Barker → Katie Klinger (Romantic Recurring Lovers) — Their relationship repeatedly resumes and ends; Katie leaves when Dan's prospects disappoint her and later leaves again after the royalty money is spent.

  Dan falls in love with Katie more than once, writes her a song, and later leaves his wife when Katie returns.

• Paul Klinger → Katie Klinger (Family Father And Daughter) — After finding Katie in the hospital, Paul reconciles with her and promises to help her begin a better life.

  Paul searches for his lost daughter, Katie, and visits her in the hospital after learning she has been injured.

Story Dynamics

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

• Linda Waring → Katie Klinger (Conflict Romantic Rival) — Katie's relationship with Dan displaces Linda from their partnership, though the plot does not describe direct confrontation between the women.

  Linda is Dan's girlfriend when he meets Katie, and Dan breaks up with Linda after falling in love with Katie.

• Dan Barker → Paul Klinger (Narrative Informant) — Dan provides Paul with an account of Katie's past and explains how she became involved in fraudulent alimony schemes.

  Paul visits Dan in New York because Dan knew Katie there, and Dan tells him the story of Katie's life under the name Kitty Travers.

• Burton Crail → George Griswold (Conflict Fraudster And Target) — Crail's attempt to use a staged photograph against Griswold fails when Griswold outmaneuvers the scheme.

  Crail arranges for Griswold to be photographed with another woman as part of a settlement scheme, but Griswold sends a double.

Story Analysis

A father's search leads him to hear how his daughter became entangled in fraudulent schemes and unstable relationships before their final reconciliation.

Plot Progression

1. The Search and the Story — Paul searches for his missing daughter and turns to Dan for information. Dan reveals that Katie used the name Kitty Travers and begins recounting her New York past.
2. A Dangerous New Career — Katie seeks modeling work, learns about fraudulent alimony cases, and begins working for Crail. Her work leads to a scandal, while Dan's feelings for her disrupt his relationship with Linda.
3. Love and Lost Fortune — Katie leaves Dan when his prospects seem poor, and Dan returns to Linda and marries her. After his song for Katie becomes a hit, Katie returns and pulls him away from Linda again.
4. The Failed Griswold Scheme — Katie marries Griswold while secretly returning to Crail's work. Their attempt to obtain a settlement fails when Griswold sends a double, and Crail and Katie are arrested for fraud.
5. Reconciliation in Hospital — After Dan finishes his account, Paul learns that Katie has been injured in a car crash while out on parole. He visits her, reconciles with her, and promises to help her start over.