Matt Carney (played by Richard Arlen) is a protagonist in Wrecking Crew.
The company's foreman who mediates conflicts and assigns Duke to the high watertower. He becomes romantically involved with Peggy Starr and proposes to her. He gets trapped under a collapsing girder during a structural failure but is rescued by Duke and Fred. Duke Mason (played by Chester Morris) is a protagonist in Wrecking Crew.
An arrogant risk-taker nicknamed cannonballer who initially earns a reputation for jinxing demolition projects. After saving Matt and befriending Peggy, he overcomes his bad luck, gets promoted to night foreman, discovers a cash cache to help his friends, and ultimately saves Matt during a catastrophic wall collapse. Peggy Starr (played by Jean Parker) appears in Wrecking Crew.
A struggling woman rescued by Duke who he passes off as his cousin. She is hired as the company secretary, dates both Duke and Matt, and is torn between them. She ultimately rejects Duke's impulsive proposal and marries Matt. Emil (played by Fred Sherman) appears in Wrecking Crew.
Mike O'Glendy (played by Esther Dale) appears in Wrecking Crew.
The widow and current boss of the O'Glendy Wrecking Company who takes on a high-stakes demolition contract with a strict deadline. She manages the crew, hires Peggy, promotes Duke, and intervenes in workplace conflicts before attending the honeymoon celebration. Joe Poska (played by Alexander Granach) appears in Wrecking Crew.
A wrecking crew member who celebrates his son's christening but is called to duty. He dies accidentally when he falls down a refuse chute while assisting Duke with dumping bricks, initially reinforcing the crew's superstition about Duke's bad luck. Tom Kemp (played by Billy Nelson) appears in Wrecking Crew.
A skeptical wrecking crew member who initially blames Duke for workplace accidents and quits to avoid working with him. Later, he recklessly releases a runaway wrecking ball while intoxicated, causing a serious injury and structural damage to the building.
Wrecking Crew (1942) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Matt Carney
(played by Richard Arlen) — protagonist
The company's foreman who mediates conflicts and assigns Duke to the high watertower. He becomes romantically involved with Peggy Starr and proposes to her. He gets trapped under a collapsing girder d...
Duke Mason
(played by Chester Morris) — protagonist
An arrogant risk-taker nicknamed cannonballer who initially earns a reputation for jinxing demolition projects. After saving Matt and befriending Peggy, he overcomes his bad luck, gets promoted to nig...
Peggy Starr
(played by Jean Parker) — supporting
A struggling woman rescued by Duke who he passes off as his cousin. She is hired as the company secretary, dates both Duke and Matt, and is torn between them. She ultimately rejects Duke's impulsive p...
Emil
(played by Fred Sherman) — supporting
Mike O'Glendy
(played by Esther Dale) — supporting
The widow and current boss of the O'Glendy Wrecking Company who takes on a high-stakes demolition contract with a strict deadline. She manages the crew, hires Peggy, promotes Duke, and intervenes in w...
Joe Poska
(played by Alexander Granach) — supporting
A wrecking crew member who celebrates his son's christening but is called to duty. He dies accidentally when he falls down a refuse chute while assisting Duke with dumping bricks, initially reinforcin...
Tom Kemp
(played by Billy Nelson) — minor
A skeptical wrecking crew member who initially blames Duke for workplace accidents and quits to avoid working with him. Later, he recklessly releases a runaway wrecking ball while intoxicated, causing...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Mike O'Glendy → Joe Poska
(Professional Crew Employer)
Joe is a wrecking crew member who leaves his christening celebration when the worksite requires emergency reinforcement.
Mike O'Glendy → Tom Kemp
(Professional Crew Supervisor)
Tom works as a wrecker for the company before quitting because he refuses to work with Duke.
Matt Carney → Peggy Starr
(Romantic Partner)
Matt falls for Peggy, proposes to her, and later begins their honeymoon at the Empire State Building.
Duke Mason → Joe Poska
(Professional Work Partner)
Joe dies while helping Duke dump a load of bricks down the refuse chute.
Mike O'Glendy → Peggy Starr
(Professional Employer)
Mike agrees to hire Peggy as the company secretary after Matt and Duke recommend her.
Mike O'Glendy → Matt Carney
(Power Boss And Foreman)
Mike runs the O'Glendy Wrecking Company, while Matt serves as foreman and manages dangerous work assignments.
Mike O'Glendy → Duke Mason
(Professional Employer)
Mike hires Duke for the demolition project and later promotes him to night foreman.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Duke Mason → Peggy Starr
(Social Rescuer And Friend)
Duke rescues Peggy after she is thrown out of a café and introduces her to his friends as his cousin.
Tom Kemp → Emil
(Conflict Cause Of Injury)
A runaway wrecking ball released by Tom severely injures Emil, and Emil later identifies Kemp as responsible.
Duke Mason → Tom Kemp
(Conflict Arch Rival)
Tom accuses Duke of jinxing every project, quits to avoid him, and later releases the secured wrecking ball after Duke refuses to rehire him.
Matt Carney → Duke Mason
(Alliance Teammate)
Matt assigns Duke to work with him on the high watertower, and Duke later risks his life to rescue Matt from a collapsed girder.
Story Analysis
A reckless demolition worker confronts superstition, rivalry, and structural danger while learning loyalty and responsibility.
