Character Relationship Map: Nevada

Characters

• Nevada (played by Gary Cooper) — protagonist

  A feared gunfighter who breaks his friend Cash Burridge out of jail and later seeks respectable work protecting Ben Ide’s ranch. He becomes involved with Cawthorne’s rustlers to evade the sheriff, dis...

• Hettie Ide (played by Thelma Todd) — protagonist

  Ben Ide’s sister, whom her brother hires Nevada to protect from the cattle rustlers. Her relationship with Nevada angers the ranch foreman, Clan Dillon, who is in love with her. After Nevada’s reputat...

• Clan Dillon (played by William Powell) — supporting

  The foreman on Ben Ide’s ranch and a rival of Nevada for Hettie Ide’s affection. He secretly leads the cattle rustlers, spreads rumors about Nevada’s past to the sheriff, and shoots both Cash Burridge...

• Ben Ide (played by Philip Strange) — supporting

  An Englishman who owns the ranch where Nevada and Cash Burridge take respectable jobs. Nevada and Cash had rescued him from Cawthorne’s gang of cattle rustlers, and Ben hires Nevada to protect his sis...

• Cash Burridge (played by Ernie Adams) — supporting

  Nevada’s friend, whom Nevada breaks out of the Lineville jail. The two travel to Winthrop and take jobs on Ben Ide’s ranch, but later join Cawthorne’s gang to escape the sheriff. Clan Dillon shoots Ca...

• Sheriff of Winthrop (played by Christian J. Frank) — minor

  The sheriff who learns a damaging rumor about Nevada’s past after Clan Dillon spreads it. Nevada and Cash later join Cawthorne’s gang to escape the sheriff. A posse arrives during the final confrontat...

• Cawthorne (played by Ivan Christy) — minor

  The leader of a gang of cattle rustlers that threatens Ben Ide and his ranch, though the gang secretly takes its orders from Clan Dillon. Nevada and Cash join the gang while trying to evade the sherif...

• Sheriff of Lineville (played by Guy Oliver) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Sheriff of Lineville → Nevada (Power Jailer) — The Lineville sheriff represents the legal custody Nevada helps Cash escape.

  Nevada breaks Cash Burridge out of the Lineville jail, placing him in conflict with the Lineville jail authority.

• Ben Ide → Nevada (Professional Employer) — Ben gives Nevada legitimate ranch work and a protective assignment.

  Fearing the rustlers, Ben Ide hires Nevada to protect his sister Hettie.

• Clan Dillon → Cawthorne (Power Leader) — Dillon secretly commands Cawthorne's criminal gang.

  Nevada discovers that Cawthorne's gang takes its orders from Dillon, who is revealed as the leader of the rustlers.

• Clan Dillon → Hettie Ide (Romantic Love Interest) — Dillon's unreturned love contributes to his hostility toward Nevada.

  Clan Dillon is the ranch foreman and is described as being in love with Hettie.

• Hettie Ide → Ben Ide (Family Sister) — Ben is Hettie's protective brother and employer of Nevada.

  Ben Ide owns the ranch and is identified as Hettie's brother when he hires Nevada to protect her.

• Nevada → Hettie Ide (Romantic Love Interest) — Their relationship develops from protective duty into marriage.

  Nevada is hired to protect Hettie, and the film ends with Nevada free to marry her.

Story Dynamics

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

• Sheriff of Winthrop → Nevada (Conflict Pursuer) — The sheriff's pursuit forces Nevada back into the outlaw network.

  Dillon spreads a rumor about Nevada's dark past to the sheriff, prompting Nevada and Cash to join the gang to escape him.

• Clan Dillon → Cash Burridge (Conflict Murderous Adversary) — Dillon's violence against Cash becomes a decisive cause of the final conflict.

  During a raid, Dillon shoots Cash, leaving Nevada to learn of Dillon's treachery from his dying friend.

• Cawthorne → Nevada (Alliance Temporary Associate) — Their association is forced and temporary rather than loyal.

  Nevada and Cash join Cawthorne's gang in order to escape the sheriff.

• Nevada → Clan Dillon (Conflict Rival) — They compete over Hettie and become direct enemies.

  Dillon is angered when Ben hires Nevada to protect Hettie, and he later wounds Nevada during their confrontation.

• Nevada → Cash Burridge (Social Friend) — Cash is Nevada's close companion and trusted friend.

  Nevada breaks Cash Burridge out of the Lineville jail, and the two men travel together to Winthrop.

Story Analysis

A feared gunfighter seeks respectability but is pulled back into outlaw violence before truth restores his future with Hettie.

Plot Progression

1. Escape Toward Respectability — Nevada breaks Cash Burridge out of the Lineville jail and travels with him to Winthrop. They hope to abandon their troubled pasts by taking respectable ranch work.
2. A Dangerous Ranch Protection — Ben Ide offers Nevada legitimate work and hires him to protect Hettie from rustlers. Dillon, the foreman who loves Hettie, resents Nevada's presence.
3. The Outlaw Trap — Dillon spreads a rumor about Nevada's past, bringing the Winthrop sheriff after him. Nevada and Cash join Cawthorne's gang, where Nevada discovers Dillon's secret authority.
4. Betrayal Among Rustlers — During a raid, Dillon shoots Cash and Cawthorne. Cash's dying revelation exposes Dillon's treachery and drives Nevada toward confrontation.
5. Truth Restores Nevada — Dillon wounds Nevada during their confrontation, but the posse arrives and the wounded Cawthorne provides evidence against him. Nevada's reputation is restored, leaving him free to marry Hettie.