Character Relationship Map: Something Big

Characters

• Joe Baker (played by Dean Martin) — protagonist

  Joe Baker is an aging bandit in the New Mexico Territory who is determined to accomplish a spectacular robbery before Dover McBride arrives. He leads his gang against a Mexican bandit stronghold, nego...

• Dover McBride (played by Carol White) — supporting

  Dover McBride is Joe Baker's fiancée and Tommy McBride's sister, traveling from the East to join Baker. Her letter creates the deadline for his planned robbery, and after arriving at the fort she give...

• Angel Moon (played by Robert Donner) — supporting

  Angel Moon is Jonny Cobb's ruthless sidekick and a violent participant in the gun transaction. He kills Malachi Morton when the trader demands more money, then accompanies Cobb during the pursuit of J...

• Malachi Morton (played by David Huddleston) — minor

  Malachi Morton is a trader who meets Jonny Cobb and Angel Moon in the desert to sell them a Gatling gun stolen from a federal arsenal. When he demands a higher price than agreed, Angel Moon throws a k...

• Jonny Cobb (played by Albert Salmi) — supporting

  Jonny Cobb is an outlaw who negotiates with Joe Baker for a Gatling gun in exchange for a woman. He travels with Angel Moon and later joins Col. Morgan and Jesse Bookbinder in locating Baker. When Bak...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jonny Cobb → Malachi Morton (Professional Arms Buyers) — Morton is the trader supplying Cobb's side with the stolen weapon.

  Cobb and Angel Moon meet Malachi Morton in the desert to buy the Gatling gun, which was stolen from a federal arsenal.

• Jonny Cobb → Angel Moon (Professional Boss And Sidekick) — Angel functions as Cobb's violent subordinate and operational partner.

  The plot identifies Angel Moon as Jonny Cobb's ruthless sidekick, and the two travel together to purchase the Gatling gun.

• Joe Baker → Dover McBride (Romantic Fiancees) — Their engagement and conflicting expectations create Joe's personal deadline.

  Joe Baker is determined to accomplish something big before his fiancée Dover McBride arrives from the East. Dover later gives him an ultimatum to retu...

Story Dynamics

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

• Angel Moon → Malachi Morton (Conflict Murderous Opponents) — A dispute over payment turns the arms transaction into lethal violence.

  When Morton demands more than the agreed price, Angel Moon throws a knife into his chest and kills him instantly.

• Joe Baker → Angel Moon (Conflict Enemies) — Angel directly threatens Joe during the breakdown of the weapon deal.

  Angel Moon attempts to kill Joe Baker at Baker's hideout, but Angel is killed during the confrontation.

• Joe Baker → Jonny Cobb (Alliance Conditional Partners) — They cooperate temporarily because both expect to gain from the weapon exchange.

  Joe Baker makes a deal with Jonny Cobb to obtain a Gatling gun in exchange for a woman.

Story Analysis

An aging bandit pursues a spectacular robbery while love, loyalty, and the consequences of his bargain reshape his escape.

Plot Progression

1. A Deadline For Something Big — Joe Baker plans a major robbery before Dover arrives from the East. He identifies a Mexican bandit hoard and seeks a Gatling gun to make the attack possible.
2. The Search For A Captive — Joe makes a deal with Jonny Cobb and repeatedly stops stagecoaches while searching for a woman. He eventually abducts a woman whose identity creates a dangerous military pursuit.
3. Love Disrupts The Bargain — Cobb's gun transaction turns deadly when Angel Moon kills Malachi Morton. Dover arrives and pressures Joe, while Joe realizes he loves the woman he abducted and rejects the original exchange.
4. The Hideout Confrontation — The opposing parties converge at Joe's hideout with the Gatling gun. Angel dies, the gun's seizure is prevented, and Cobb is given an unexpected alternative to his failed bargain.
5. The Mexican Raid And Departure — Joe and his men raid the Mexican bandit town with Apache assistance. The Gatling gun wins the battle, but Joe remains troubled by Dover's words before leaving for the East.