Character Relationship Map: Rockabye

Characters

• Judy Carroll (played by Constance Bennett) — protagonist

  Judy is a stage actress who testifies for her former lover, Al Howard, and consequently loses custody of Elizabeth, the orphan she hoped to adopt. After traveling to Europe with her mother, Snooks, sh...

• Jacobs 'Jake' Van Riker Pell (played by Joel McCrea) — supporting

  Jake is the playwright of Rockabye, whose heroine's story resembles events in Judy's life. Initially doubtful that the sophisticated actress can play a tough girl from Second Avenue, he changes his mi...

• Antonie 'Tony' de Sola (played by Paul Lukas) — supporting

  Tony is Judy's devoted manager. He encourages her to travel to Europe with her mother, Snooks, after she loses custody of Elizabeth, and has reservations when Judy decides to star in Rockabye. He help...

• Al Howard (played by Walter Pidgeon) — supporting

  Al is Judy Carroll's former lover and is accused of embezzlement. Judy testifies on his behalf, and as a consequence she loses custody of Elizabeth, the orphan she had planned to adopt. The synopsis d...

• 'Snooks' Carroll (played by Jobyna Howland) — supporting

  Snooks is Judy Carroll's alcoholic mother. At Tony's urging, she travels to Europe with Judy as Judy tries to alleviate her emotional pain after losing custody of Elizabeth. The synopsis identifies he...

• Elizabeth 'Lilibet' (played by June Filmer) — supporting

  Elizabeth is an orphan whom Judy Carroll had planned to adopt. After Judy testifies on behalf of her former lover, Al Howard, she loses custody of Elizabeth. The synopsis does not describe Elizabeth's...

• Mrs. Van Riker Pell (played by Virginia Hammond) — supporting

  Mrs. Van Riker Pell is Jake's mother. She speaks to Judy at the opening-night party for Rockabye, telling her that Jake's wife has just had a baby and asking Judy to forget her son. Her news prompts J...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jacobs 'Jake' Van Riker Pell → Mrs. Van Riker Pell (Family Mother And Son) — Jake's mother speaks to Judy at the opening-night party about Jake's wife and newborn child.

  Mrs. Van Riker Pell is identified as Jake's mother.

• Judy Carroll → Jacobs 'Jake' Van Riker Pell (Romantic Lovers With An Impossible Marriage) — Their romance is constrained by Jake's marriage; Judy rejects his renewed proposal after learning of the newborn.

  Judy and Jake fall in love, and Jake proposes that they marry once he is free. At the opening-night party, Judy learns his wife has had a baby and ins...

• Judy Carroll → 'Snooks' Carroll (Family Mother And Daughter) — Snooks accompanies Judy to Europe after Judy loses custody of Elizabeth.

  The synopsis identifies Snooks as Judy's alcoholic mother and says they travel to Europe together.

• Judy Carroll → Antonie 'Tony' de Sola (Professional Manager And Actress) — Tony supports Judy through her distress and helps bring her chosen play to the stage despite his reservations.

  Tony is Judy's devoted manager and urges her to travel to Europe with her mother after she loses custody of Elizabeth. He also helps produce Rockabye.

• Judy Carroll → Elizabeth 'Lilibet' (Family Prospective Adoptive Mother And Child) — Judy hopes to become Elizabeth's adoptive mother, but the custody loss separates them.

  Judy had planned to adopt Elizabeth, an orphan, but loses custody of her after testifying for Al.

• Judy Carroll → Al Howard (Romantic Former Lovers) — Judy's testimony for Al is followed by her losing custody of Elizabeth, whom she had planned to adopt.

  The synopsis identifies Al as Judy's former lover. Judy testifies on his behalf when he is accused of embezzlement.

Story Dynamics

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

• Judy Carroll → Mrs. Van Riker Pell (Conflict Romantic Rivalry) — Mrs. Van Riker Pell confronts Judy with the reality of Jake's marriage and urges her to end the relationship.

  Mrs. Van Riker Pell tells Judy that Jake's wife has just had a baby and asks Judy to forget her son.

Story Analysis

A stage actress turns personal loss and romantic disappointment into a theatrical opportunity, then faces a painful choice when love conflicts with family commitments.

Plot Progression

1. A Testimony's Cost — Judy testifies for her former lover, Al Howard, who is accused of embezzlement. She consequently loses custody of Elizabeth, the orphan she had planned to adopt.
2. Europe and the Play — Tony urges Judy to travel to Europe with her mother, Snooks, to ease her pain. There Judy reads Rockabye, a play that resembles recent events in her life, and decides to star in it despite Tony's qual...
3. A Role and a Romance — Jake doubts Judy can play his tough Second Avenue heroine until she reveals that she was raised there. They hit it off, Judy persuades Tony to produce the play, and Jake proposes marriage once he is f...
4. The Opening Night Choice — Jake is absent from the opening-night party, where his mother tells Judy that his wife has just had a baby. When Jake arrives and renews his marriage proposal, Judy insists that he return to his wife...
5. Tony's Confession — Devastated after sending Jake back to his family, Judy is comforted by Tony. He finally reveals his feelings for her.