Character Relationship Map: Red Heels

Characters

• Célimène (played by Lili Damita) — protagonist

  Célimène is a stage dancer who marries Miles Seward, a young British Bohemian living in Paris. At her husband's urging, she leaves her career and moves with him to a country cottage. She later accepts...

• Vicomte Francois de la Roche de Maudry (played by Georges Tréville) — supporting

  The Vicomte is Célimène's former manager. He invites her to attend a party, where she performs a dance despite having given up her stage career after marrying Miles Seward. His invitation brings Célim...

• Duval (played by Hugo Thimig) — supporting

  Duval directs the New Eden, which is struggling to attract an audience. He fears that Ninette's declining appeal will ruin the business, so he welcomes the Vicomte's promise to introduce him to a new...

• Miles Seward (played by Eric Barclay) — supporting

  Miles Seward is a young British Bohemian living in Paris who marries the stage dancer Célimène. He persuades her to give up her career, and they settle together in a country cottage. After she perform...

• Nan Seward (played by Marietta Millner) — supporting

  Nan is Miles Seward's sister and objects to his plans to marry Célimène and leave Paris. She worries that he will damage his career and cannot afford the luxuries Célimène is accustomed to. Her concer...

• Christina Landrolet (played by Maria Asti) — supporting

  Christina is a former favorite of the Vicomte who resents Célimène's rising fame and the attention the Vicomte gives her. The Vicomte enlists Christina to help bring Célimène back, as he sends clothes...

• Ninette - primadonna of the New Eden (played by Maria Fein) — supporting

  Ninette is the New Eden's primadonna, whose declining appeal worries the theater's director, Duval. With the theater struggling and its audience dwindling, Duval fears that her waning popularity will...

• Dorothy Madison (played by Ria Günzel) — minor

  Dorothy Madison is Miles Seward's fiancée when he becomes increasingly interested in Célimène. Miles's growing devotion to Célimène leads him to ask her to marry him, making his pursuit of a new relat...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Vicomte Francois de la Roche de Maudry → Duval (Professional Theater Associate) — The Vicomte responds to Duval's concern about the New Eden by offering to introduce Célimène.

  The Vicomte is a longtime friend of the theater, and he promises Duval an introduction to Célimène as a new star.

• Vicomte Francois de la Roche de Maudry → Christina Landrolet (Professional Former Favorite And Assistant) — The Vicomte turns to Christina for help in drawing Célimène back toward the theater and its social world.

  Christina is described as a former favorite of the Vicomte. He later enlists her help to bring Célimène back.

• Duval → Ninette - primadonna of the New Eden (Professional Director And Performer) — Duval's concern about Ninette's diminishing appeal motivates his interest in finding a new star for the theater.

  Duval fears that Ninette's declining appeal will ruin the New Eden's business.

• Miles Seward → Nan Seward (Family Brother And Sister) — Nan warns Miles against marrying Célimène, but he disregards her concerns and proceeds with the marriage.

  Nan Seward worries that Miles will damage his career and cannot afford Célimène's accustomed luxuries; Miles rejects her objections.

• Miles Seward → Dorothy Madison (Romantic Former Fiancée) — Miles's growing devotion to Célimène develops while he is engaged to Dorothy.

  Miles's interest in Célimène grows despite his engagement to Dorothy Madison.

• Vicomte Francois de la Roche de Maudry → Célimène (Professional Former Manager And Performer) — The Vicomte helps launch Célimène's success and later encourages her return to the theatrical world, contributing to conflict with Miles.

  The Vicomte promises Duval he will introduce Célimène as a new star. Later he invites her and Miles to Villa Paradis and sends her luxury clothes and...

• Célimène → Miles Seward (Romantic Husband And Wife) — They leave Paris together for a quieter life, but their differing needs and her return to the theater's social world cause a bitter rupture.

  Miles asks Célimène to marry him, and they marry and settle in Brittany. After their quarrel, Célimène repeatedly calls for Miles while gravely ill.

Story Dynamics

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

• Miles Seward → Duval (Social Former Associate) — Miles's departure from Paris leaves him feeling guilty about his unexplained separation from Duval and the theater world.

  After settling in Brittany, Miles feels guilty about leaving Duval without explanation.

• Christina Landrolet → Célimène (Conflict Jealous Rival) — Christina's resentment places her in opposition to Célimène, though she also helps the Vicomte draw her back into the theater's orbit.

  Christina resents Célimène's rising fame and the attention she receives from the Vicomte. The Vicomte later enlists Christina's help to bring Célimène...

Story Analysis

A stage performer leaves her career for marriage, but the pull of her former life strains the couple's bond and leaves their reconciliation unresolved.

Plot Progression

1. A Star for the New Eden — The New Eden struggles as Ninette's appeal declines. The Vicomte offers Duval a new attraction in Célimène, whose success captures Miles's attention and provokes Christina's resentment.
2. Love and Leaving Paris — Miles falls deeply in love with Célimène and asks her to marry him. Despite her warning and Nan's objections, he marries her, and they move to Brittany.
3. The Pull of the Old World — Life in Brittany is peaceful but dull for Célimène, while Miles misses his former life. The Vicomte enlists Christina and uses gifts and an invitation to draw Célimène back toward the theater's social...
4. A Bitter Reunion — At Villa Paradis, Célimène performs, and Miles confronts her about returning to that world. Their reunion becomes bitter, and she leaves; later, gravely ill with pneumonia, she repeatedly calls for hi...