Character Relationship Map: Red Salute

Characters

• Drue Van Allen (played by Barbara Stanwyck) — protagonist

  Drue is the daughter of General Van Allen and initially loves Leonard Arner, a communist graduate student. After her father tricks her into traveling to Mexico, she becomes stranded and joins Jeff in...

• Jeff (played by Robert Young) — supporting

  Jeff is a soldier whom Drue meets while she is stranded in Juarez; she nicknames him “Uncle Sam.” Though they initially dislike each other, they flee together and grow close. At General Van Allen’s re...

• Leonard Arner (played by Hardie Albright) — supporting

  Leonard is a communist graduate student whom Drue loves at the beginning of the story. After he is expelled from a college campus for speaking to students, a newspaper photograph of him with Drue draw...

• Aunt Betty (played by Nella Walker) — supporting

  Aunt Betty is identified as Drue’s aunt. General Van Allen uses the supposed plan to see Aunt Betty off as a pretext to get Drue onto a plane bound for Mexico, then locks her in. The summary does not...

• Baldy (played by Edward McWade) — supporting

  Baldy is a caretaker whom Drue and Jeff persuade to believe they are friends of his employer, Colonel Turner. As a result, he lets them stay in Turner’s house. His assistance gives the pair temporary...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Drue Van Allen → Aunt Betty (Family Aunt And Niece) — Aunt Betty is part of Drue's family and the explanation used to manipulate her travel.

  Drue is tricked into boarding an airplane supposedly to see her Aunt Betty off.

• Drue Van Allen → Jeff (Romantic Partner) — Their hostile first encounter gradually develops into mutual love and marriage.

  Jeff tells Drue that he loves her, she kisses him, and later realizes that she is in love with him before marrying him.

• Drue Van Allen → Leonard Arner (Romantic Partner) — Their relationship begins as an idealistic romance but is challenged by political and immigration concerns.

  Drue is described as being in love with Leonard, and a newspaper reports that they are going to get married.

Story Dynamics

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

• Drue Van Allen → Baldy (Social Deceiver And Dupe) — Their interaction is based on a coordinated false identity.

  Drue joins Jeff in convincing Baldy that they are friends of his employer so they can stay in the house.

• Jeff → Baldy (Social Deceiver And Dupe) — Jeff participates in deceiving Baldy to secure temporary shelter.

  Jeff and Drue con Baldy into believing that they are friends of his employer and persuade him to let them stay in the house.

• Jeff → Leonard Arner (Conflict Political Opponent) — Jeff directly challenges Leonard's communist speech and political influence.

  Jeff pretends to agree with Leonard's position, then reveals his opposing views during Leonard's public meeting, causing a riot.

Story Analysis

A young woman's political romance changes as forced exile, danger, ideological conflict, and personal choice lead her from Leonard to Jeff.

Plot Progression

1. A Romance Under Suspicion — Drue loves Leonard, whose political speech leads to his removal from campus. A photograph of Leonard in Drue's car makes their relationship public.
2. Exile At The Border — Drue is tricked into traveling to Mexico and becomes stranded in Juarez without money. She meets Jeff, and their mutual hostility leads to an illegal escape attempt.
3. Flight And False Shelter — Drue and Jeff evade pursuers, crash a government car, and obtain a homemade trailer. They then deceive Baldy to gain shelter at Turner's house.
4. Love Behind Closed Doors — Jeff confesses his love after dancing with Drue, and she kisses him. Their fragile intimacy is interrupted when Drue attempts to leave and both are arrested.
5. The Speech And The Choice — Drue learns more about Leonard's situation while Jeff enters Leonard's meeting under false pretenses. The resulting riot leads to Leonard's custody, after which Drue chooses Jeff and marries him.