Character Relationship Map: Alibi

Characters

• Professor Winckler (played by Erich von Stroheim) — protagonist

  A performer who amazes audiences with apparent telepathic powers and sharp observations. His connection to Hélène Ardouin becomes central to the police investigation, as Commissioner Calas suspects sh...

• Commissioner Calas (played by Louis Jouvet) — supporting

  The police commissioner leading the investigation connected to Professor Winckler and Hélène Ardouin. He believes Hélène is concealing the truth and suspects she was paid to give Winckler an alibi. He...

• Hélène Ardouin (played by Jany Holt) — supporting

  A woman questioned by Commissioner Calas whose account of the night under investigation becomes central to the case. She admits that she had not returned home alone and says she concealed the truth fr...

• Winckler's assistant (played by Foun-Sen) — supporting
• André Laurent (played by Albert Préjean) — supporting

  A man working with the police to establish the truth about the case involving Hélène Ardouin and Professor Winckler. He grows close to Hélène, making him conflicted between his feelings and his invest...

• John Gordon (played by Philippe Richard) — supporting

  A spectator singled out by Professor Winckler during a public show. Winckler correctly identifies details about Gordon and predicts that he will set out alone for an unknown destination. The available...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Winckler's assistant → Professor Winckler (assistant)
• André Laurent → Hélène Ardouin (Investigator With Romantic Feelings) — Laurent investigates Hélène while developing feelings for her; those feelings make him reluctant to treat her as a suspect.

  Laurent grows close to Hélène while trying to establish the truth, and the account says he cares for her and doubts Calas's suspicion that she is lyin...

• Commissioner Calas → André Laurent (Professional Police Superior And Investigator) — Calas directs Laurent's investigation and urges him to use a staged emotional confrontation, while Laurent's feelings for Hélène complicate his duty.

  Calas presses Laurent to continue investigating Hélène and proposes that he confront her with jealousy to make her reveal what she knows.

Story Dynamics

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

• Hélène Ardouin → John Gordon (Unknown No Established Relationship) — The available plot reference does not establish a direct connection between them.

  The account identifies Gordon as a spectator at Winckler's show but provides no event establishing a relationship between him and Hélène.

• André Laurent → Professor Winckler (Conflict Investigator Of A Suspect's Alibi) — Laurent's investigation concerns the truth of Winckler's possible alibi, though the available account gives no further direct interaction between them.

  Laurent is working with the police to establish the truth, while Hélène's presence with Winckler is described as central to the investigation and pote...

• Hélène Ardouin → Professor Winckler (Narrative Potential Alibi Witness) — Hélène's undisclosed presence with Winckler on the night in question may support his alibi, although the available account does not establish what happened between them.

  The account says Hélène's presence with Professor Winckler is central to the investigation and may provide him with an alibi.

• Commissioner Calas → Hélène Ardouin (Conflict Suspicious Investigator) — Calas distrusts Hélène's account and continues to suspect that her connection to Winckler is concealed.

  Calas believes Hélène is lying and suspects Winckler paid her to provide an alibi.

Story Analysis

A police inquiry links Winckler's demonstrations to Hélène's concealed account, while Laurent's feelings challenge Calas's suspicions and investigation tactics.

Plot Progression

1. The Professor's Demonstrations — Winckler amazes a public audience with supposed telepathic abilities, identifying details about John Gordon and predicting his solitary departure. Further demonstrations at a nightlife venue unsettle...
2. Hélène's Corrected Testimony — Calas summons Hélène, who admits her earlier statement about returning home alone was false. She explains that she hid the truth from Émile because her brother does not know about her work.
3. The Alibi Dispute — Hélène's presence with Winckler becomes central to the inquiry because it may provide him an alibi. Calas suspects she was paid, while Laurent doubts the accusation because of his feelings for her.
4. The Unfinished Ruse — Calas urges Laurent to provoke Hélène with jealousy, but Laurent says he believes she is sincere and cannot keep treating her as a suspect. Calas proposes a staged arrest and begins rehearsing it; the...