Character Relationship Map: What Do Men Want?

Characters

• Hallie (played by Claire Windsor) — protagonist

  Hallie is the belle of the town and later Frank's wife. They build a comfortable home and raise several children, but Frank's growing distance leaves her lonely as she devotes herself to the children...

• Frank (played by J. Frank Glendon) — supporting

  Frank is Arthur's brother, an automobile mechanic, and Hallie's suitor; he marries her and becomes comfortable after an invention succeeds. Later, restless and drawn to city life, he neglects his fami...

• Arthur (played by George Hackathorne) — supporting

  Arthur is Frank's brother and an automobile mechanic, and he is also in love with Hallie. At Frank's request, he asks Bertha to dance, prompting her to fall in love with him. Later, he explains to Fra...

• Yost (played by Hallam Cooley) — supporting

  Yost is described as an evil influence in the village. When Hallie is lonely during Frank's absence, he tries to win her over, but her honesty leads her to send him away. Frank sees Yost enter the hou...

• Bertha (played by Edith Kessler) — supporting

  Bertha is a poor, plain girl at the school who is shunned because her father is in an insane asylum. Alone at the ball, she is asked to dance by Arthur at Frank's request and falls in love with Arthur...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Arthur → Hallie (Romantic Interest) — Arthur's love for Hallie contributes to the early romantic triangle.

  Arthur is in love with Hallie, although Frank also loves her.

• Frank → Hallie (Family Husband And Wife) — Their marriage forms the central domestic relationship.

  The plot states that Frank and Hallie marry and later have several children together.

• Frank → Arthur (Family Brothers) — Arthur is Frank's brother and ultimately helps repair his marriage.

  The plot explicitly describes Frank and Arthur as brothers and automobile mechanics.

Story Dynamics

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

• Arthur → Yost (Conflict Truthful Counterforce) — Arthur's account counters the suspicion generated by Yost's visit.

  Arthur explains what happened with Yost and convinces Frank of Hallie's innocence.

• Frank → Yost (Conflict Suspected Rival) — Yost becomes the apparent source of Frank's jealousy and suspicion.

  Frank sees Yost enter Hallie's house, waits outside, and later accuses Hallie after not seeing Yost leave.

• Hallie → Yost (Conflict Rejected Suitor) — Hallie rejects Yost's attempted romantic or moral influence.

  Yost attempts to influence Hallie while she is lonely, but Hallie's honesty leads her to send him away.

• Frank → Bertha (Narrative Indirect Catalyst) — Frank's request indirectly initiates the chain of events affecting Bertha.

  Frank asks Arthur to dance with Bertha, and the plot states that subsequent events lead to Bertha drowning herself.

• Arthur → Bertha (Social Dance Partner) — Their dance creates an important but tragic emotional connection.

  At Frank's request, Arthur asks Bertha to dance at the ball.

Story Analysis

The film follows a marriage tested by social ambition, emotional neglect, temptation, jealousy, and eventual understanding.

Plot Progression

1. A Lonely Wallflower — At the Oakdale school and ball, Bertha is excluded while Hallie receives admiration. Frank and Arthur both love Hallie, and Frank's request brings Arthur and Bertha together on the dance floor.
2. Love And Loss — Bertha falls in love with Arthur after their dance, but later events lead to her drowning. Frank and Hallie marry, and Frank's invention brings them comfort and apparent happiness.
3. The Restless Husband — Although Frank and Hallie have children and an apparently ideal home, Frank becomes restless and moves to the city. His involvement with the fast set leaves Hallie lonely and unable to recover his aff...
4. A Costly Misunderstanding — Yost attempts to exploit Hallie's loneliness, but her honesty makes her send him away. Frank sees Yost enter the house and wrongly interprets the visit.
5. The Answer At Home — Frank accuses Hallie and prepares to leave forever. Arthur explains the truth, leading to the couple's real reconciliation and Frank's discovery of the title's answer.