Character Relationship Map: Dragnet

Characters

• Anne Hogan (played by Mary Brian) — supporting

  A flight attendant who helps Geoffrey identify the dead man as someone traveling under another man's identity. She assists Geoffrey in investigating the flight and searching for the seaplane connected...

• Frank Farrington (played by Douglass Dumbrille) — supporting

  A passenger on the flight and a criminal accomplice in the jewel scheme, Farrington is identified by the pilot as the man who killed the impostor after the jewels were retrieved. He suspects that the...

• Irene Trilling (played by Virginia Dale) — supporting

  A passenger on the flight connected to the jewel theft, Irene appears near the beachcomber's shack and refuses to give Geoffrey her name before running away. Anne later recognizes her from the flight....

Story Dynamics

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

• Anne Hogan → Frank Farrington (Conflict Adversary) — Anne becomes aligned with the opposing side during the final confrontation with Frank.

  Anne arrives with the investigator after Frank has killed Irene and attempts to kill the investigator.

• Frank Farrington → Irene Trilling (Social Associate) — Frank and Irene operate together during the investigation.

  The plot states that Irene appears with Frank Farrington and later describes him as her friend.

• Anne Hogan → Irene Trilling (Social Acquaintance) — They are connected through the same flight and Anne's identification of Irene.

  Anne Hogan identifies Irene Trilling as a passenger on the same transatlantic flight connected to the investigation.

Story Analysis

An investigation into an unidentified body uncovers a false identity, a sea-based jewelry theft, and a violent betrayal.

Plot Progression

1. A Body Without a Name — A dead man is found on the beach with no obvious identification. Clothing, currency, and fluorescent paint suggest a British connection and a link to objects floating in the sea.
2. The Vanishing Life Jacket — A life jacket is discovered in a beachcomber shack, but an attack follows its examination. The evidence disappears, leaving the investigation dependent on travel records.
3. The False Identity — A suspicious flight and a morgue identification connect the victim to a diplomatic identity and a major jewelry theft. The proposed method involves dropping the jewels into the ocean.
4. Passengers Over the Sea — Consular information disproves the supposed identity and forces a search for the seaplane involved. A pilot's account identifies the impersonator, the killing, and the unresolved location of the jewel...
5. Jewels and Betrayal — The jewels are found hidden in a lobster tank, but Frank turns violently against Irene. The final attack is stopped only when an undercover policeman intervenes.