Character Relationship Map: Pushover

Characters

• Paul Sheridan (played by Fred MacMurray) — protagonist

  Undercover cop assigned to infiltrate Lona McLane's life to locate her boyfriend, a bank robber. He falls in love with Lona, conspires to murder the robber to steal the money, and kills a corrupt coll...

• Rick McAllister (played by Philip Carey) — protagonist

  Surveillance officer monitoring Lona and her neighbor. Initially restrained by duty, he later assists in locating Lona and uncovers Sheridan's betrayal. He confronts Sheridan during the final standoff...

• Lona McLane (played by Kim Novak) — supporting

  Girlfriend of the bank robber Harry Wheeler. After meeting undercover officer Paul Sheridan, she becomes entangled with him, professes love, and manipulates him into agreeing to kill her boyfriend and...

• Ann Stewart (played by Dorothy Malone) — supporting

  Lona's neighbor who develops an interest in officer Rick McAllister. She witnesses Sheridan in Lona's apartment, alerts the police, and is subsequently abducted by Sheridan. During the final confronta...

• Detective Harris (uncredited) (played by Richard Bryan) — supporting
• Police Lt. Carl Eckstrom (played by E.G. Marshall) — supporting

  Senior police officer overseeing the surveillance operation. He prioritizes capturing the robber alive and delegates duties to his team. He grows suspicious of the officers' conduct, investigates the...

• Detective Fine (uncredited) (played by Alan Dexter) — minor
• Bank Teller (uncredited) (played by Anne Loos) — minor
• Ellen Burnett (uncredited) (played by Ann Morriss) — minor
• Detective Briggs (uncredited) (played by Phil Chambers) — minor
• Assistant Bank Manager (uncredited) (played by John De Simone) — minor
• Detective Peters (uncredited) (played by Don C. Harvey) — minor
• First Bartender (uncredited) (played by Robert Carson) — minor
• Paddy Dolan (played by Allen Nourse) — supporting

  Veteran detective on surveillance duty with a drinking problem and impending retirement. He abandons his post to go to a bar, is covered up by Sheridan, and later becomes suspicious of Sheridan's moti...

• Usher (uncredited) (played by Paul Picerni) — minor
• Second Bartender (uncredited) (played by Mort Mills) — minor
• Mr. Crockett (uncredited) (played by Dick Crockett) — minor
• Beery the Mechanic (played by James Anderson) — supporting

  Local mechanic who repairs Lona McLane's broken-down car, facilitating her initial meeting with Paul Sheridan.

• Hobbs (played by Joe Bailey) — supporting
• Pickup Artist in Bar (played by Tony Barrett) — supporting

Story Analysis

Moral conflict between duty and desire in a noir thriller

Plot Progression

1. The Assignment
2. The Seduction
3. The Moral Crossroads
4. The Betrayal
5. The Resolution