Character Relationship Map: Keep Smiling

Characters

• Jane Rand (played by Jane Withers) — protagonist

  Jane is a lively young woman who dreams of becoming a movie star. She travels to Hollywood to seek help from her uncle, a film director, and finds his career faltering and his drinking heavy. She reso...

• Carol Walters (played by Gloria Stuart) — protagonist

  Carol is the pretty secretary who works for Jane's uncle, a film director whose career has declined. Jane hopes to bring Carol and her uncle closer as part of her effort to help him regain his footing...

• Jonathan Rand (played by Henry Wilcoxon) — supporting

  Jonathan is Jane's uncle and a film director whose career has fallen on hard times. He now consoles himself with large amounts of alcohol. Jane comes to Hollywood hoping he can help launch her acting...

• Mrs. Willoughby (played by Helen Westley) — supporting
• Cedric Hunt (played by Douglas Fowley) — supporting
• Stanley Harper (played by Robert Allen) — supporting
• J. Howard Travers (played by Pedro de Cordoba) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jane Rand → J. Howard Travers (Professional Industry Contact) — Connection to studio executives for her uncle's projects
• Jane Rand → Stanley Harper (Professional Potential Collaborator) — Professional relationship in the film industry
• Jonathan Rand → Carol Walters (Professional Director And Secretary) — Professional relationship with underlying romantic potential
• Jane Rand → Jonathan Rand (Family Niece And Uncle) — Jane supports her uncle's career comeback in the film industry

Story Dynamics

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

• Jonathan Rand → Mrs. Willoughby (Social Advisor) — Mentor figure offering guidance to the struggling director
• Jane Rand → Cedric Hunt (Conflict Competitor) — Faces resistance and skepticism from industry peers
• Jane Rand → Carol Walters (Social Friend) — Jane notices and facilitates the relationship between Carol and her uncle

Story Analysis

A determined young woman uses a film project to pursue stardom, revive a fallen filmmaker, and encourage a romantic connection.

Plot Progression

1. A Dream Points West — A young woman dreams of becoming a movie star. She courageously travels to Hollywood to seek help from her filmmaker uncle.
2. The Fallen Filmmaker — The anticipated family connection does not provide the expected support. She discovers that the once-famous filmmaker has suffered career setbacks and now drinks heavily.
3. A Twofold Scheme — Rather than abandoning her ambitions, she creates a plan with two aims. She will use a film to revive the uncle's career while securing herself the leading role.
4. Film, Career, And Romance — The proposed production becomes the practical vehicle for restoring the uncle's professional prospects. She also hopes the project will bring him closer to his attractive secretary.